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Pope* 1 ' :#, * 'l QUEBEC: FAIMTIO FOR THE EDITOR, BT J. BiaiOirj MOVRTAIH STRBCT. 1'? l«i^ ■^■K^.:&g3S-7^ ki '0 / «• % i m ADVERTISEMENT. The CANADIAN VISITOR is design- ed to comey useful and important information^ in a form cheapt and accessible to all classes of the communiti/' All peculiarities of party in religion and po' litics will he carefully avoided. It is proposed, that each number of the Visit" or shall contain an article of foreign and domes- tic newSf with some original pieces. In our selections, we shall int'^educe some ex- tracts from the works of Johnfon, Blair, Butler, and other writers of known respectability. Some remarkable events wilt be twticed under the months ^ in which they occurred^ ' %^. And several miscellaneous questions will he proposed each month, and the answers to them will be gken in the following number. The sixth number will contain an index for (he convenience of those persons, who may wish to bind this work fur the use of Schools. If there should be any, who cannot afford to. take a Weekly Paper, perhaps they may find it convenient to take the Visitof, espicudly when they find that it will answer the double pur- pose of a Newspaper and a School-Book. No employment in this life can be more im-^ A O u ADVERTISEMENT. pofiant or more pleasing to the Christian Philo" sopher, than to impart useful knowledge to the rising generation* The happiness or misery of each individual depends^ in a great degree^ upon the habits for" med and information acquirea in early life* Addison says, " that one habit is as easily pur- wed as another, when once formed." Hence the great advantage of adopting correct rules for the government of our actions as soon as possible* Jfthen^ the enjoi/ment of each indrcidual, both here and hereafter, and the general pros^peritv of the community depend upon the business of Edu" cations it may he expected, thett every true friend to his country will lend all the aid in his power towards instructing children in their duty to God 9fid (heir fellow men*. , Perhaps in no way can this he accomplished, better than by circulating useful Books, which mre calculated to unite amusement with instruct thn* As Schools intrease in Canada, a demand for Pooks wiH of course increase ; and it is cheaper to furnish food for the mind than poison* The different plans and new improvements in Education will occupy a considerable portion of the future numbers of this work* Should peace and prosperity continue, it is ho" ped, that the friends to Education, in Canada, will soon favor the public with a more extensive periodical work in both the English and French language. THE CANADIAN VISITOR. MAY, 1815. MAY, the fifth month of the year, is said to have derived it» name from Maia, the mother of Mercury^ to whom the Romans offered sacrifice on the first day of this month. In this month, the Countries generally in North Latitude begin to assume their most beautiful appear- ance. And as Thomson justly remarks, where or« chards and fruit gardens abounds we may behold : « One boundless blush, one white impurpled shower «« Of mingled blossoms." Hail beauteous May that doat inspire Mirth and youth and warm desire v Woods aod groves are of thy dressing.. Hill and dale do boast thy blessing. M1X.T0N. The first day of May has been immemorially ob- served in England, as a rural festival, and high poles, denominated May-Polest are in many places erected, and profusely decorated with garlands composed in honor of the day. It was not only a civil but a roy- al amusement, as the Kings, Queens and their Cour- tiers walked abroad to gather flowers, which was caU led " going a Maying." Remarkable Events which occurred on thu Month, On the first of May, 1707, commenced the Union of England and Scotland An event, which con- tributed much to the prosperity and happiness of both kingdoms. 'A3 ■■<^^^^^i. .•^>^«aK^-.- . is THE CANADIAN" VIM TOR, On this day, 1 807, was proscribed by the Briiisfr Parliament, that horrid engine of iniquity, tlie S/ave Trade : one of tlie greatest works of charity ever per- formed by a Christian Nation. The abohtiou of this ignominious commerce was indeed, a most splendid victory, not of force over force, but of Philanthopy, Reason and Religion, over avarice, barbarity and im- piety. In this noble conquest, the names of S/tarp, JVUberforce and Clarksotiy w\\\ stand uiuivalled ; and thousands of the emancipated Africans will rise up and call them blessed. And it is pleasant to reflect upon the consequences of the noble example which Great Britain has set for the world to imitate, with respect to the abolition of the Slave Trade, To the praise of several nations be it spoken, *• Thet^ ftave ^one and done likeivtse.'* And it is hoped, tliat no nation calling itself a Christian and civilized people, will long refuse to imitate their example. 14. The ascension of Jesus Chtist, from Mount Olivet, near .?erusalcm, is supposed to have taken place on this day. Thence he sprang From this gross Earth, and claim'd a purer air. At the right hand of Majesty on high. To sii with never.fuding glory crownM j; With ceaseless intercession, there he pleads For Adam's fallen wretched race. Hey. 20.— Americus Vesputius, a native of Florence, sailed from Cadi/, in 1497, on a voyage of discovery to the westward. And l>eiiig a man of considerable literary talents and great address, ho wipplanted Co-r luir.bus.aiid gave hi:> name ro the \Vi;.tfrn Contiiieiit. An'd the imposture has been sai;ciror;td by time, to the iiijuiy of C* luuibu:, to whom the houar < f dioco- vvTv is juiillv due. THE CANADIAN VIISITOK. » JU- '.•% FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. The latest reports from Europe are truly astonlsh- >ni But we shall make very few remarks until official accounts are received. We lament, that the disturber of the peace of nati- ons had not been placed in some other situation. Had he been confined in the Tower of London with other wild beasts, instead of being placed upon the Island of Elba, it would probably have prevented much trou- ble, and the loss of much blood and treasure. We leave political events for this month, and has- ten to a subject more pleasing to the Christian and Philanthropist. Notwithstanding the very grievous burdens which Great Britain has been obliged to bear, in prosecut- ing the different wars in which she has been involved, she has done more towards relieving the wants of the- distressed, and promoting useful establishments, thaii. al! the world besides. Within twenty years. Great Britain has paid to- wards supporting her own poor, upwards of one hun- dred milhons of pounds sterling. And it is thought that nearly as much more has been given by benevo- lent individuals and charitable societies in England, to- wards relieving the wants, and promoting tlie happi- ness of other nations. She has^ not confined her charity to the wants of the budy ; but animated by more exalted views, she has 1 kevv'se provided relief for the mind. Millions of the heathen nations, once sunk in the grossest idolatry, are now beholding the light of truihi, The d fferent Missionaiy Societies which have been formed, have sent out many faithful labourers ; in con- sequence of whose n(;ble exertions, " the ivilJerness '*h''and the solitary places be^in to rijoice and blossom as ♦' /// e rose The Bible Societies in Great Britaiji only, have, in ■P « TUB CANADIAN VJSITOIU the course often years, sent out for distribution more than 1,000,000 of Bibles and Testaments, which by the indefatigable labors of Gary, Marsh, Morrison and other translators, are rendered capable of speak- ing to the various nations in their respective langua- ges. And we ought not to omit to mention in this place the noble exertions, which have been made by the Emperor of Russia and other exalted characters in the different kingdoms of Europe, who are imitating British Christians, in carry inj^ into operation those benevolent plans whose object is to enlighten and Christianize the world. JDOMEST/C INTELLIGENCE. Peace, for more than a year, has been an article ai foreign news, but, it is a few weeks only, since it became domestic intelligence in this country. With peculiar satisfaction we behold the horrors of War exchanged for the blessings of Peace. How delightful the change ! A few days ago, the science of human butchery engrossed the principal attention of all classes of the community, in Canada ; but now the Merchant, the Farmer, and Mechanics of every description, are seen busily and laudably engaged in their various occupations, providing for themselves and families the comforts of life ; and by exchange of commodities promoting the general happiness of so- ciety. And it must be highly gratifying to every person of refinement, to see plans of Education and Moral Improvement established and liberally patronized, in a country where they have been so long neglected. The late discoveries and improvements with respect to communicating elementary knowledge, which have been made in Great Britain, and which are beginning THE CANADIAN VI8IT0*. O interest the feelings, and excite the gratitude of t"trf true friend to this country. Perhaps there can be no domestic news more grati- fying to our readers, than to hear, that a Committee is organized at Quebec, to superintend the apphcati- on of a Fund raised in England, for promoting the Education of all Claises of the Destitute in this coun« try. The System of Education, adopted by this Com** raittee, having been found, greatly to abridge the labor and expensi* attending the common methods of acquiring knowledge, it is expected, in a short time, that branches of this establishment will be introduced to every populous town in Canada. And it is in contemplation, as soon as possible, to fntroduce Schools of Industry^ and open houses and workshops fwr the accommodation of persons of every age and description, who are destitute of the comforts d hfe. Should it be asked, how the means for accomplish* ing these important objects will be obtained ; it is na- tural to suppose, that in the course of a few years^ otheis, hke M'GiLL and Marstellek, will leave a part of their property towards encreasing those funds, which benevolent gentlemen in Canada and Britain have commenced. And perhaps Government vill af» ford some aid towards accomplishing objects of such ' general utility. , , . .... > =g= trnm PiiitANTiiROPic Society, ojt, Refuge for T|I¥ Destitute, Proposed for the (enslderatiop of the Public, The object of this Institution ifi to promote Indus* try', by furnishing employment, and the necessaries pf life for any who are destitute. The plan proposed is to provide a House, with separate apartments, for the diHeient sexes, at which $ # e THE CANADIAN VISITOR. all labour performed, an adequate compensation givea, not to be paid in money, but in necessary articles of food, clothing, &c. When the Society is organised. Tickets will be printed, with which each Subscriber may be furnished ; and in.:»;ad of giving any money at the door or ^n the street, let a ticket be given whicb will entitle the re- ceiver to some immediate relief at the depository, where he may be furnished with employment and the 4 means of support, until he can find a place where he n, can be better accomodated. Every person shall have liberty to take up daily to i/he amount of his earnings Destitute persons who have no home, will be pro- dded with comfortable lodgings at a moderate price, but no person shall be suffered to leave the house, until he has laboured sufficiently to compensate for whatever he has received. At the Society*s Depot, shall be kept various af* tides of ready made cloathing ; also crude materials, which may be taken, wrought, and returned at a fair pripe J but in case the person applying for such mate<< rials, be unknown, or one who cannot with safety be trusted, he must procure some one who is known to the Overseer, to be surety for him, or he must Irave some pledge until he has wrought the said articles^ and return them to the Depot, when he may take up his pledge, and receive pay for his labour. INTERESTING EXTRACT FROM COLNT RUMFORD's WORKS. "[Much has been said in this country ^ during the Session oj the last Parliament, respecting the expediency of establishing Houses of Industry in Canada. No- thing speaks so forcibly to the human mind as well authenticated facts. From the following remarks which were made by Count Rumford^ respecting a House of Industry in Munich^ and which are here ^iven in his own wordsy it if hopedj that all will THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 7 le satisfied^ that such establishments are extensively usefult and afford much satisfaction to the destitute Poor. 2 ** A brief account of the Poor, who were brought together in the House of Industry at Munich, and of the interesting change which was produced in their manners and dispositions. Various proofs that the means used for making them industrious, com- fortable and happy, were successful. « The awkwardness of these poor creatures, when they were first taken from the streets as beggars, and put to work, may easily be conceived ; but the facility with which they acquired knowledge of the various ma- nufactuies in which they were employed, was vtry remarkable, and much exceeded ray expectation, but what was quite surprising, and at the same time inte- resting in the highest degree, was the apparent & rapid change which was produced in their manners — ^in their general behaviour — and even in the very air of their countenances, upon being a little accustomed to their new situations. The kind usage they met with, and the comforts they etijoyed, seemed to have softened their hearts, and awakened in them sentiments as new and surprising to themselves, as they were interesting to those about them. The melancholy gloom of misery, and air of unea- siness and embarrassment, disappeared by little and little from their countenances, and were succeeded by a timid dawn of cheerfulness, rendered most exquisitely interesting by a certain mixture of silent gratitude, which no language can defecribe. In the infancy of thie establishment, when these poor people were first brought together, I used very frequently to visit them — to speak kindly to them — and to encourage them ; — and I seldom passed through jthe halls where they were at work, without being a witness to the most moving scenes. Objects, formcily the most miserable and wretch- ed, whom^ I had seen for years as beggars in the S THE CANADIAN VISITOR. Streets ;— -young women— perhaps the unhappy vic- tims of seduction, who, having lost their reputation, and being turned adrift in the world, without a friend and without a home, were reduced to the necessity of begging) to sustain a misers^ble existence, now recog- nized me as their benefactor, and with tears dropping fast from their cheeks, continued their work in the mpst expressive silence. If they were asked, what the matter was with them, their answer was, (" Nichts ") " Nothing," acQompanied by a look of affectionate regard and gra* titude* so exquisitely touching as frequently to draw tears from the most insensible of the by-standers. It was not possible to be mistaken with respect to the real state of their minds ; every thing about them showed that they were deeply affected with the kind- ness shewn them ; — and that their hearts were really softened, appeared not only from their unaffected expressions of gratitude, but also from the effusions of their affectionate regard for those who were dear to them. In short, never did I witness such affecting scenes as passed between some of these poor people and their children. The children were separated from the grown per- sons, at first ; but as soon as order was thoroughly es- tablished in every part of the House, and the poor people had acquired a certain degree of address in their work, and evidently took pleasure in it, as many of those as had children expressed an earnest desire to have them near them, permission was granted for that purpose ; and the spinning halls, by degrees, were fil- led with the most interesting little groups of industri- ous families, who vied with each other in diligence and industry ; and who displayed a scene, at once the most busy, and the most cheerful that can be imagi- ned. An industrious family is ever a pleasing object ; but there was something peculiarly interesting and s^fffct- ing in the groups of those poor people. THE CANADIAN VHITOR. ^ Whether it was, that those who saw them compar- ed their present situation with the state of misery and wretchedness from which they had been taken, or whether it was the joy and exultation which were ex- pressed in the countenances of the poor parents in contemplating their children all busily employed a- bout them ; or the air of self-satisfaction which these little urchins put on, while they pursued their work with redoubled diligence upon being observed, that rendered the scene so singularly interesting I know not ; but certain it is, that few strangers who visited the establishment came out of those halls without be- ing much affected. Many humane and well disposed persons are often with-held from giving alms, on account of the bad character of beggars in general ; bat this circumstance^ though it ought undoubtedly to regulate the mode of administering our charitable assistance, should certain ^ ly, not prevent our interesting ourselves iii tbe fate of these unhappy beings ; on the contrary, it ought to be an additional incitement to us to relieve them 4 for nothing is more certain, than that ihehr crimes are ve- ry often the effects, not the causes of their misery ; and when this is the case, by removing the cause, the effects will cease. Nothing is more extraordinary and tmaccountable, than tbe inconsistency of mankind in every thing, even in the practice of that Divine virtue, Benevolence ; and most of our tnistalces arise more from indolence and from inattention, than from any thing else. The busy part of mankind are too intent upon their own private pursuits ; and those who have leisure are too averse from giving themselves trouble, to investigate a subject but too generally considered as tiresome and uninteresting. But if it be true, that we are really happy only in proportion as we ought to be so ;— • that is, in proportion as we are instrumental in pro- moting the happiness of others } no study surely caft No. I. B 10 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. be 80 interesting, as that which teaches us how most effectually to contribute to the well-being of, our fel- low-creatures. If love be blind, self-love is certainly very short sighted ; and, without the assistance of reason and reflection, is but a bad guide in the pursuit of hap- piness. Those who take pleasure in depieciating all the social virtues, have represented pity as a nnere selfish passion ; and there are some circumstances which ap- pear to justify this opinion ; it is certain that the mis- fortunes of others affect us, ndt in proportion to their greatness, but in proportion to their nearness df ourselves ; or to the chances that they may reach us in our turns. A rich man is infinitely more af- fected at the misfortune of his neighbor, who, by the failure of a Banker with whom he had trusted the greater part of his fortune — by an unlucky run at play, or by other losses, is reduced from a state of affluence, to the necessity of laying down his carri- age — leaving the town, and retiring into the country upon a few hundreds a year, than by the total ruin of the industrious tradesman over the way, who is dragged to prison, and his numerous family of young and helpless children left to starve. Btit however selfish pity may be, Berrevolence cer- uel to prohibit them. But, though allowable as the relaxation, they are most culpable as the busi- ness of the young ', for they then become the gulph of time, and the poison of the mfnd. They foment bad passions. They weaken the manly powers They sink the native vigour of youth into contempti- Ue efieminacy* The pleasures of Learnings aftd the mrsenes of Ignorance^, «• 1'he importance of Education is acknowledged by civilized rations : it humaniaesand refines the mind of man ; fits it for the duties of life ; and renders rhe individual a blessing to society." evans. Not many miles from the city of London, was the residence of a respectable widow ; she had only one child, the consolation of her widowhood. She invited two of her nieces to spend a few weeks with her, as it was her annual custom. Neither had passed the sixteenth year of her age* Both possessed interesting countenances, and they ni- herited gifts far more valuable than a pretty face, for they were industrious in household affairs. Ir was their misfortune to be the seiiiorsof the fa- mily ; and the care of the younger branches was made an excuse for their ignorance ; as the hinderance to* improvement. But this is a frivolous, an insufficient,, and idle excuse. Occaaionally they associated with their neiiiiibours; ; and their neglected education wa» alwaja a subject of lameutatioQ» THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 15 These females quitted their parental home, and, af. ter a long journey, arrived at their aunt's in safety. After some days had elapsed, the widow and her daughter Ann supplicated the company of a few neigh- bouring young females to make an excursion to a fa- vourite park, where they proposed to pass the day. It was summer. To keep giddy youth within the compass of decorum, the widow, as a steady matron, accompanied them. Her nieces were particularly under the care of this intelligent woman. She was interested in the fate of her charge. She was determined to make them feel through shame, what they had hitherto considered unworthy of notice. The company walked slowly onwards in detached parties. Our heroines and their guide were the first divisoD. The expected pleasures of the day, like the canopy of heaven, seemed without a cloud ! But who can premise what a moment may bring forth ? The widow stopped at an old gothic building. After attentively gazing on an inscription, which was over the portico, said, " My eyes are weak, I can- not make out what that motto means, tell rae ?" The sisters stood silent. At length she heard them, in a whispering tone, spelling the words. " What id that !'* interrogated one, but no answer was returned by the other sister. After some deliber- ation, they managed to make a confused account, for both explained it differently. The widow appeared satisfied, though she knew that they were incorrect in their statements. They continued forward, and arriv- ed at the park. Under a shadowy tree, on the side of a hill, they sat down, where the several parties joined them. A river flowed through its winding bed, just before them J the vessels and boats, gliding on the surface^ addi'd to the beauty of the lovely scene. There is that ship/' exclaimed the sisters, <* ia it le THE CANADIAN VISITOR. which father and us sailed, wc inows it by ihat there reading on the sail." " No, it is not,'* returned Ann, their cousin, a girl about ten years of age, «* though the situation of boih names are similar, yet that vessel was called Pro- videnccy as you may remember ; the name of this is Charity, as can very plainly be seen." The tender feelings of the females were hurt by having exposed their ignorance ; they blushed to be reproved by one 80 much younger than themselves, and secretly resolv- ed to learn to read. The widow, thinking some refreshment would be agreeable, requested her nieces to take the provisions from their basket, and wished for the currant jellies. They had opened a few pots, and tied them up again, when the good woman, wondering at the delay, fmarked, as they were all labelled, she might find them in a moment ; but, alas I this only evidenced they could not read. Their cheeks proved that they were ashamed of their ignorance. They resolved to lose no time to efface the stigma from their characters. Beck. ANECDOTES^ &C. It is a custom among the Canadian Indians, that when one dreams that another has rendered him any ser- vice, the person dreamt d of thinks it a duty to fulfil the dream if possible. A chief one morning came to the governor, Sir William Johnson, and told him that he had last night dreamed that Sir William had made him a present of the suit of regimentals he wore. The governor readily presented them to him ; but as the Indian was going out, ♦ Stop/ said hj, * I had almost forgot, but I dreamed of i^ou last night ; I dreamed that you gave me such a tract of land,* des- cribing a large tract — * You shall have it,* said he ; but if you please, Sir William, we will not dream any more.* THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 17 When Dr. Johnson visited the university of St* Andrews, (a place famous for bestowing academical honours without mjch discrimination) he took occa* sions to enquire of one of the professors into the State of their funds ; and being told tliat they were not so affluent as many of their labours. * No matter, (said the doctor drily) persevere in the plan you have form- ed, and you will get rich by degrees.' EXTRACT FROM THE LOG-BOOR OF A NAVAL OFFICER DESCRIBING HIS VOYAGE OF LIFE. First part of the voyage — Pleasant, with fine bree- ses and free winds — all sail set — spoke many vessels in want of provisions, supplied them freely. Middle passage — Weather variable — short of pro- visions — spoke several of the above vessels our supplies had enabled to refit — made signals of distress — they up helm, and bore away. Latter part — Boisterous, with contrary winds — - current of Adversity setting hard to leeward—towards the end of the passage it cleared up — with the qua- drant of honesty had an observation : corrected and made up my reckoning, and after a passage of 50 years, came to anchor in Mortality Road, with the calm unruffled surface of the Ocean of Eternity ia view ! EPITAPH ON A POET, BY HOPE. Heroks and kings! your distance krep ; In peace let one poor poet sleep, Who never flattered folks like you, Let ^ord^e blush, and Firgit iot>. EPIGRAM ADDRESSED TO A LADY. I wish'd that two vowels were joined, In wedlock most holy and true; And I could not but think in my mind,, Th«t the vowels must he I and U« 18 THJB CANADIAN VISITOR. THE COUNCIL OF HORSES. A rABtB. Upon a time a neighing Steed, Who graz'd among a numVous breed, With mutiny had fir'd the train, And spread dissension through the plain. On matters that concem'd the state The Council met in grand debate. A Colt, who»e eye balls flam'd with ire, Elate with strength and youthful fire, In haste stept forth before f .' re«t, And thus the listening throng address'd. Good gods ! how abject is our race, Condemn'd to slav'ry and disgrace ! Shall we our servitude retain, Because our sires have borne the chain. Consider, friends, your strength and might j fis conquest to assert your right. How cumb'rous ii the gilded coach ! The pride ©f man is our reproach. Were we dcMgn'd for daily toil, To drag the plough share through the toil : To sweat in harness through the road. To groan beneath the carrier's load ? How feeble are the two-legg'd kind ! What force is in our nerves combin'd ! Shall then our nobler jaws submit To foam and champ the galling bit ? Shall haughty man my back bestride ? Shall the sharp spur provoke my sidef Forbid it, heav'ns I reject the rein; Your shame, your infamy disdain. Let him the lion first control, And still the tiger's famish 'd growl. Let us, like them, our freedom claim. And make him tremble at our name. . A gen'ral nod approv'd the caiire. And all the c.rcle neigh 'd applause. When, lo ! with grave and solemn pace, A Steed advanc'd before the race With age and long exptrttnce wise; Around he cast his thoughtful eyes. And to the murmurs of his train. Thus jyjtok ' i he Nestor of the plain : Wh M i -Hd htHith and strength, like you. THE CANADIAN VISITOR. Now grateful man rewardi tnv paint, And gives me all these wide uomains. At will I crop the year's increase ; My latter life is rest and peace. I grant to man we lend our pains. And aid him to correct the plains ; But doth not he divide the care, Through all the labors of the year ; How many thousand structures rise, To fence us from inclement skies! For us he bears the sultry day, And stores up all our winter's hay. H^ sows, hf reaps the harvest's gain, We share the toil, ajid share the grain. Smce ev'ry creature was decreed, To htlp each other's mutual need, Appease your discontented mind. And act the part by heav'n assign'd. The tumult ceas'd. The Colt submitted. And, like his ancestors, was bitted. Hay. 19 Miscellaneous Questions ; To be answered in the next number. ] St. A gentleman left an estate of 1^10,000 to be divided between seven poor men, nine widows and twelve orphan children ; the men were to receive twice as much as the women and the women twice .at much as the children, how much had each ? 2nd. How many Cubes each side of which is ^ of an inch, are equal in solid content to one of which every side is 2 feet 1 inch ? 3rd. Supposing the river St. Lawrence, at Que- bec, to be 1400 yards broad, and at an average 80 feet deep ; and supposing the current to run down u^ery day four hours longer than it does up at the rate of 5 miles an hour ; how many cubic miles of water does it carry to the sea in a year ? 4th. Dido, Queen of Carthage, when about to lay the foundation of that City, is said to have pur- <:hased as much land as she could enclose with a bull's nin*». Kn«> nut »n«» KiHo intr« amoil tl>r«nr»o tf\ oo ♦/> a« . 20 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. close a space sufficient to support her metropolis. Now, supposing Dido was contented with one square English mile, and supposing the hide to have been 12 feet long by 8 broad ; required the breadth of the pieces to inclose the square desired ? 5th, If the population of this globe be nine hundred millions, and each person require for each day a pound of bread, half a pound of meat, and a pound of vege- tables worth one shilling, what would be the sum re- quired to provide for the human family for one year ? 6th, Supposing the population of the world to be as above stated, 900,000000, and a generation to last 30 years, how many must enter and leave the world evety minute, and how many have lived upon the earth since the creation, to the present year ? 7th. If half the inhabitants of the world are ca- pable of laboring, and the time of each, on an average^ be worth 3d per hour, and two hours might be redee- med every day, by each, from sleep and unnecessary amusements ; what sum might, in this way, be saved for promoting charitable objects ? 8th, If one fourth part of the inhabitants of the world would agree to deduct one penny a day from the superfluities of their food and clothing, how much might be saved every year towards feeding and clothing the poor ? 9th. What proportion of the population of the world embraces Christianity ? 10th. Have we evidence to believe, that all the world will at any future period embrace the Christian Religion ? 1 1 th. Can we determine the time of such an event i I2th. What is the best method of rendering our- aelves contented and happy in the situation in whick we are placed ? THB CANADIAN VISITOR. JUKE, 1815. J " Now genial suns and gentle breezes reign, " And summer's fairest splendours deck the plain." UNE, the sixth month from January, had its name from the Latin Junius, which some derive a Jw none. This is the pleasing season, when, as Thompsoi happily expresses it, Heaven dewendt In universal bounty, shedding herbs. And fruits, and showers, on Nature's aaple lap. Remarkable Events which occurred in this Months 2—1802. The House of Commons voted a remu* neration of ten thousand pounds to Dr. Jenner, for his invalualile discovery of the Vaccine Innoculation, which by saving millions of victims from an untimely grave, will prove an inestimable blessing to the whole human race. Dr Jenner was born in Berkley, Glou- cestershire, where lys unremitting and disinterested endeavors to extend the sphere of human happinefi has endeared him to all classes of society. And when the names of heroes and conquerors shall have sunk into oblivion, hts will be pronounced with gratitude by myriads yet unborn. ' On the 4th of this month, 1738, was born George the II Id. our venerable and beloved Sovereign. He is the eldejt son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and grandsbn to George the Tld. whom he succeeded on the Throne, October 25, 1760 Intheyearl768, the Royal Academy of Arts in ' \'V ~% '•'"••^^"' *^' "^v; ciij,i;uragenienj of I'aint* ing and Sculpture, It is under the immediate patron. No, II, Q ^ ^ THE CANADIAN VISITOR. ajre of the King, and under the direction of forty aK tists of the first rank in their several professions. 5.— 1762. Died Lord Anson, who signalized him self by his voyage round the globe. 7 -.1566. The foundation of the Royal ±.xchange in London was laid by Sir Thomas Gresham. 11—1727. George 1- died in his carriage, near Osnaburgh, in Germany, in the 68th year of his age, and in the 13th of his reign. « . • i r »i,„ 1793 Died Dr. W. Robinson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh. His Histories of Ameri- ca, of Scotland, and of Charles V. a»c models of ele- gant^compos^ion^^^^^ Addison expired at Holland- House, near Kensington. 27th.— 1682. Charles Xn. King of Sweden was °29 —Peter the Apostle, was born at Bethsaida in Galilee. His first name was Simon; but when cur Saviour called him to the Apostleship, he changed it to Cephas, which in Cyriac signifies a stone or rock ; in Latin Petra, whence he was called Peter. He was a married man, and had his house near to the Lake of Genesareth He is said to have been cru- cified with his head downwards by his own request, out of humility. He suffered in the 75th year of "sT^Paul, formerly named Saul, was first a persecu- tor of the church, and afterwards a di«ciple of Jesus Christ His parents sent him to Jerusalem, where he studied law at the feet of Gamaliel, a famous Doc- tor. He is supposed to have been a convert to Chris- tianitv about the year 36 or 37, and continued faith- ful in the service of his divine Master, until he was beheaded by order of Nero. Some say t^at^%^J« 55, and others suppose that he was upwards of 60 - ,> when he suffered martyrdom. I \.ai o v* THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 23 FOREIGN INTELLIGENGE. It is rather an ungrateful task, in the present un- settled state of the political horizon to attempt a sum- mary of passing events ; for having made upour mmds to the enjoyment of Peace, after the sangumary con- tests of the preceding twenty years ; at so long a de- sired moment, when the portals ot Janus were appa- ^ rently, on the point of being closed, u affects us more sensibly to behold the dsmon of discord, again stal|c- ine forth, in the person of Buonaparte, and tiied hu- manity, once more afflicted with the prospect of ad- di?ionIl human carnage. By the inscrutable decrees of Providence, the murdering sword is permitted agam to be unsheathed, and probably thousands of victims are preparing for sacrifice, at the altar of ambition. By the late accounts, we hear that, Buonaparte, es- caping from the Island of Elba, landed on the 2d of March in that part of the south of France, denomina- ted the department of the Var, with only a few hun- dred followers, and finding the military every where disposed in his favor, and prepared by his enussanes for his reception, he has succeeded in usurping the government of France, and Louis the 18th is agam in exile from the throne of his ancestors. At this crisis the representatives of the allied powers assembled in congress at V ienna, had just complete their honora- ble, and glorious labours, for the restoration ot unt- ver sal peace, they have unanimously signed a decla- ration purporting, that Buonaparte having by this recent measure broken all faith, and destroyed all confidence, could now expect no protection from them, and they solemnly pledge themselves to use their utmost efforts, to maintain that peace, which their valor, and wisdom had just completed. Nume^ rous armies were in motion, and advancing towanfe. the French front wg, the Dukeof Weiiingrtou h^dist- C 2 «* THE CANABIAN VISITOR, turned the command of a northern division, composed chiefly of British, Hanoverian and oiher troops, rais- ed in the Netherlands ; and it is hoped that, with the blessing of Providence, these prompt, and energetic measures, veill liave the desired effect. Belgium has been united to Holland, and the Prince of Orange takes the title of King of the Netherlands. Another Tevolulion is said to have taken place in Spain, and Ferdinand VH, is supposed to have fled, but this re- port wants confirmation. A considerable number of vessels have arrived since our last No. from Britain, and the above is the sub- stance of the intelligence they bring. The principal part of the troops are ordered home immediately. And it is reported, that many thousands of families in En- gland are coming out to settle in Canada. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE, Melancholy jicctdent — An American boat coming from Platsburgh to St. John's with 18 passengers, on Sunday the 7th May was upset by a flaw of wind» rear Ash Island, and nine persons were drowned. It ought to be remembered, that this event took place on Sunday. And it will be found, that more accidents of a similar nature happen on that day, than, on any other day of the week ; which, it is hoped, will be a warning to those captains of vessels, masters ef packets and steamboats, who make their arrange- ments to trespass upon the Lord's day, in open viola* tion of the Divine command. It is said, that the ships of war cow building ia Sacket's Harbour, are to be flnished, launched, and flunk, as the best means of preserving them for a fu- ture occasion. If no use can be found for them, but the one for which they were originally designed, it is sincerely de- tired by every friend to mankind, that they may neveir bfl raised from their wateiy grave. tHE CANADIAN VISITOR. 25 It is reported, that a number of persons in this country have lately been bitten by mad dog? . Could not some method be devised to destroy, or greatly diminish the number of that useless and dan- gerous kuid of animal ? A few of them may be con- venient in new settlements, to keep oflF wolves and wild beasts. But it is recommended, that all dogs which are kept in cities and populous towns should be taxed annually, a guinea a head. In this way, money might be obtained, in Quebec only, sufficient to feed, clothe and educate one hundred orphan children. A number of very useful inventions in farming and mechanical operations, have been recently brought to public notice, some of which will be detailed in our fu- ture numbers. It is very astonishing, that the application of steam, has not been rendered more extensively useful in thit country. Might not a steam engine be constructed to raise water upon Cape Diamond sufficient to supply the city of Quebec ? And cpuld it not be done at less ex- pence than to procure it brought in buckets and bar- rels as it now is? • , *. We mentioned in our last number, that a Free School was established in this city, under the superin- tendance of a Committee appointed by the desire and according to the plan recommended by certain Trus- tees in London j whosi berevoknt designs have been made public, through the medium of the different newspapers, ^ ,- «. % The House, that has lately been fitted up for the Quebec Frtt School is large, and conveniently situated fct the accommodation of the children, both m the city and suburbs. The number of scholars is daily increasing, and more may be admitted by applying to the Instructor, or either of the Committee, It is the unanimous opinion of the Committee i» Canada aad of the 1 rustees in Englaad, tbsU no isfe- C 3 fi6 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. terference with respect to Religion, ought ever to take place b the Schools which may be established in con- nexion with this institution. But it is recommended^ chat all the children belonging to this School, and such others as may be formed on this plan, be requested to- attend such places of worship, and learn such cate- chisms and articles of faith as may be recommended by their respective Parents and Guardians ON EDUCATION, According to our promise in the last number, we ahall now proceed to give a detailed account of the new improvements in Education. It has been thought, that the plans of iristruction introduced by Dr Bell and Mr Lancaster, are im- practicable in this country; but from actual experi- ments which have been made in England, it is found,, that these valuable improvements may be rendered, extensively useful in villages and country places ge- nerally. The following observations and remarks are princi- pally extracted from a work entitled "The Village School Impuoved ;" ^y the Revi J. Poole, Rec- tor of Enmore, and ChaplatH to the Earl ofEgmont, The candor and good sense of this Author will be manifest to all, who may read that excellent work. «* Long before I heard of the new systems of edu* cation, I bad been in the practice of visiting a day- school established in my parish. It consisted general* ly of about twent five or thirty children of both sexes J all of whom were taug^ht to read ; some few to write ; and such of the girls J^s were old enough were instructed in needle-work. The schoolrrtistvess was an active intelligent; woman ; who appeared de- sirous of doing all in her power to bring on the chil^ di-en in their learning ; but her plan of instruction being that which is followed m most of the old vil- lage schools, the progress made by the children> THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 2r though equal to what is usually made in such schools, was by no means such as satisfied me I formed the resolution, therefore, about two years ago, of at- tempting to introduce in the school some of the re^* cent improvements in education. I was folly sensible that what I was about to at^ tempt waa merely an experiment. No mslance had come to my knowledge of any new system having been adopted in any but free schools ; established, and supported by subscription, in large towns or po- pulous manufacturing districts. How it would suc- ceed, when applied to a school m a small parish, where the education of each child is paid for by its pa- rent, or some other individual, could not be ascertain- ed without a trial ; and that trial, with the consent* andci-ncurrenceoftheschoolmistress^ T was dispos- On my explaining to her the principle of the new system, tuition by means of scholars themselves, and stating to her the outlines of the plan which I pro- posed to go upon ; I had ihe great satisfaction to find, not only that she understood it, but that sh© cleaiiy foresaw the advantages that were likely to a* riw by adopting it in her school. I thought it pru. dent, however, to make the first trial of the new me- thod of teaching with five or six only of her mote advanced scholars ; and to be determined, by its ef- fect upon them, whether it should be continued or not. This point was soon settled. At the end of a few weeks, the improvement of these children was so great and obvious, especially in spelling, which before had not been much attended to, that no doubt remained as to the propriety of introducing it general- ly into the school. v • v The necessary provision, therefore, having been made of sand, slates, books, &c. and the room hav- ' ing been enlarged to its present size, and furnished v/nh desks and forms, in July 1810, the new sys- tern began to be fully acted upon. Since that time THE CANADIAN VISITOR. more than a year and a half is elapsed ; and every day has convinced me still farther of its excellence. Ah the school increased in number, alterc tions vjrere of course requisite in the arrangement of classes, and other subordinate details : improvements also present- ed themselves, from time to time, in different parts of the system j which rendered some changes expe- dient. With the exception, however, of a few mo- difications, which at the iir%t introduction of the sys- tem were impracticable, but which the further pro- gress of our children enabled us to adopt, and which will be noticed in their proper places j — the follow, ing account describes the school in its present state. The method of teaching is a compound of Dr. Bell's and Mr. Lancaster's systems, with some slight aherations and additions In what respects it agrees^ and in what it differs from each, may be seen at once in the subjoined table. I. It agrees with both— In the division of the school into classes j each under the tuition one of the scholars. II. It agree?* with Dr. Bell's — 1. In the use of small, cheap books, in preference to cards 2. In reading word by word, backwards, and sometimes syllabically. $, In unreiterated spelling. 4. In the reading and ciphering lessons being ac- companied with questions. 5 In keeping a register of the business done in each class. III. It agrees with Mr Lancaster's 1. In all the children being seated at single desks,, facing one way. 2, In all the children being taught to write. 5. In all the children being taught to spell, by writing on slates words dictated by the teachers. A^ In oil »V*^ /^Vl1|i4**An «««V«A.<< - " ing taught ta cipher in classes. if Wiien Qi a jjfOpcr age, be- THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 29 IV. The Enmore school difFers from the great- er part of those, both on Dr. Beirs and Mr. Lan- caster's systems — In not being a free school. • V. The following modifications and additions have been introduced. 1. Writing from dictation connected, in various ways, with every reading lesson. 2. Numerals, punctuation, &c. taught by writing from dictation. 3. Sets of questions and answers provided for many of the reading lessons. 4. Sets of questions and answers provided for the ciphering lessons ;— and for other things taught in the school. 5. Nothing repeated from memory, until fir&i read, with all the accompanying exercises. 6. Mr. I<.anca8ter*8 method of teaching arithme- tic considerably modified and extended: tables, in some rules, given on a peculiar construction, &c. &c. [To he continued in our next.] On Mispent Time, I was yesterday comparing the industry of man with that of other creatures , in which I could not but ob- serve, that, notwithstanding we are obliged by duty to keep ourselves in constant employ, after the same manner as inferior animals are prompted to it by instinct, we fall very short ( f them in this particular. We are here the more inexcusable, because there i» a greater variety of business to which we may apply ourselves. Reason opens to us a large field of aflairs, which other creatures are not capable of. Beasts of prey, and, I believe, of all other kmds in their natural •tate of being, divide their tin.e between action and rest. They are always at work or asleep. In shorty -I. _:.- 1-.* U_. - .^.l.nlUr »oL-on iir» in «!pf>Ul!lcr liicir waKiuy huUid aic wnuujr ».««x" «»|- — 'j^ after their food, or in consuming it. The humaa do THE CANADIAN VISITOR. species only, to the great reproach of our natures, ar« filled with complaints, that " the day hangs heavy on then^,'*that " they do not know what to do with themselves," that ♦* they are at a loss how to pass away their time ;" with many of the like shameful murmurs which we often find in the mouths of those who are styled reasonable beings. How monstrout are such expressions among creatures who have the labours of the mind, as well as those of thebody, to furnish them with proper employments ; who besides the business of their proper callings and professions, can apply themselves to the duties of religion, to me- ditation, to the reading of useful books, to discourse ; in a word, who may exercise themselves in the un- bounded pursuits of knowledge and virtue, and every hour of their lives make themselves wiser or better than they were before. After having been taken up for some time in this course of thought, I diverted myself with a book, ac- cording to my usual custom, in order to unbend my mind before I went to sleep. The book I made use of on this occasion was Lucian, where I amused my thoughts for about an hour among the dialogues of the dead ; which in all probability produced the following dream : I was conveyed, methought, into the entrance of the infernal regions, where I saw Radamanthus, one of the judges of the dead, seated on his tribunal.. On his left hand stood the keeper of Erebus, on his right the keeper of Elysium. I was told he sat upon wo- men tl\at day, there being several of the sex lately ar- rived, who had not yet their mansions-assigned them, I was surprised to hear him ask every one of them the same question, namely, What they had been doing ? Upon this question being proposed to the whole as- sembly, they stared upon one another, as not knowing what to answer He then interrogated each of them separately. Madam, says he to tlie first of them, y6\x have been upon the earth about fifty years : what have TUB CANADIAN VISITOR. 31 you been doing there all thia while ? Doing, says she ; really I do not know what I have been dpuig : I dc- aire I may have time given me to recollet. Atier about half an hour's pause, she told him that she had been playing at crimp : upon which Rhadamanthus beck- oned to the keeper on his left hand to take her into custody. And you Madam, says the judge, that look with such a soft and languishing air, I think you set out for this place in your nine-and-twentieth year, what have you been doing all this while ? 1 had a great deal of business on my hands, says she, being taken up the first twelve years of my life in dressing a iointedbaby, and all the remaining part of it in read- inff plays and romances. Very well, says he, you have employed your time to good purpose. Away with her. The next was plain country woman : WeU mistress, says Rhadamanthus, and what you have been doing I An't please your worship, says she, I did not live quite forty years ; and in that time brought my husband seven daughters, made him nine thousand cheeses, and left my eldest girl with him to look after his house in my absence ; and who, I may venture to say, is a pretty a housewife as any in the country. Rhadamanthus smiled at the simpliaty of the good woman, and ordered the keeper of Elysium to take her into his care. And you, fair lady, says he, what have you been doing these five-and-thirty years .? I have been doing no hurt, I assure you, Sir, said she. That is well, said he ; but what good have you been doing > The lady was in great confusion at this ques- tion ; and, not knowing what to answer, the two keepers leape4out to seize her at the same time ; the one took her by the hand to convey her to Elysium, the other caught hold of her to carry her away to Erebus. But Rhadamanthus observing an ingenuous modesty in her countenance and behaviour, bid them both let her loose, and set her a side for re-exammation «pl,an he was more at leisure. An old woman, of a jyrou'd'and sour look, presented herself next at the 52 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 1 bar ; and being asked what she had been doing : Truly, said she, I lived threescore and ten years in a very wick.e^!>°"« who made a «».«. ' Yes,' answered he my 'w.fi. THE FOOL'S EKPHOOF. The™ »ss . certain nobleman (^. KJop H^ J-j^" *t.iS r^y year, after |he °f ;™jJ'M* '™^ .. j „„,t ^„n\y fool came to see him : hw sick loru oo. ^^ leave y.«."-" A"* "S*- ^ J";^^"^? aS ^ ^H y"u to another world," replied his J^'^'^ PT",, .. within avear?" :''i:^:.fa,''H^.ben.*'rerylff> f.. «>.han .yMy. lam not guilty of any such folly as this. A nerson saying that he would not believe that there was any de^L^auX had never seen him, was answered by another. f'S^^same^le. I should believe you to have neither mt Bor sense** Mr R d of I th, a man of some fortune in the neigh- thought proper to shew it by riding onihe fct path /^^"g * inougni. J. i' „,^prp,i h m mnenously to get out upon the Xl^f^MUri^^rtov^^orn vou speak?' you know. Sir, (said f^^J^,,,^,^ ofI******th: "S?r ^;t cerS^ly dS -entitle you t/ride - ^^ejo- p^^^^^ and to drive a humble pedestrian ofl u M^hy Si. I am a trustee of this roud. 4 » it J VM srfi. y very hnpudent fellow. Who are you, bir^ vou are a very bad one. ' You are ♦ 1 am John Duke THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 41 #/* Mmtaguc: It is almost unnecessary to add, that the haughty laird of I th, after a very awkward apology, went off into the main road. POETRY. VERSES which were composed for the anniversary of the SCHOOL SOCIETY, LONDON. In early life, Man's like the flower That craves support and care, That ill can bear the falling shower, Or frost or chilling air : But beauteous will the floweret blow When needful aid is given. And Mind's fair blossoms fichly grow If sheher'd by kind Heav'n. The cherub forms of female grace. With sweet presaging bloom, Where oft the noble soul we trace Thro* want's opposing gloom, ^^ Shall share the good that we bestow ; And as their minds improve, Our great reward shall ceaseless flow From Virtue, Truth, and Love. O Reason ! spark of heavenly light, To all the choicest boon ; Than morning sun thou'rt far more bright, Or beams of highest noon : We'll fan thee in the tender mould Where thou art latent laid. And wide the gates to thee unfold. Where Knowledge is display'd. Oft Genius, like the diamond, lies In an unsightly cell, , . „ • But now, the Spirit freed, shall rise With wise compeers to dwell. Within the infant breasts around. What Talents are conceal'd* — O let the Gems by us be found. And gloriously reveaid. ^^ CREERY. 42 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WHICH WERE PROPOSEB IN THE LAST NUMBER. QUESTION 1. The sum of iSl 0,000 divided in the manner reqm- red on page 19th, would afford to each man 16689 1 38 U; to each woman £3^4> 16 6^ ^ to each child jei72 8 3 J:. The Amount of the fractions is 1 J. 0. 2 —The solid content of a cube of which one .,*^: , r • „u ;a5\/sv5 -i^i of a cubic mch; Side IS I of an inch, is l-X^X-s— »t| Ve ;«^i,«o il and the content of that whose side 25 mches, 18 25X25X25=15625 cubic inches. Now 15625 divided by iH » «9"^\ ^°- ^l*^^ Therefore 27,000 cubes having each side^ ot an incft, are equal to one cube whose side is 2 feet I inch. Q 3 —The current running down 4 hours in the 24. at the rate of 5 miles an hour, a body of water 20 miles long, 1 400 yards broad and 80 feet deep, is car- ries towards the sea every day. Now 1400 yards are equal to U «^i^"' ^"^ ^^ ^'^^ T?^ ^°/' * -on Hence the above mentioned body of water, is 20 multiplied by H multiplied by ^^ «r "a^S f ^ ^^^l^ mile which is carried towards the sea every day. This fraction multiplied by 365, gives »i|l*° or ^'^Vot or nearly S8 cubic miles. Further, if the Atlantic ocean be at an average, 12,000 miles long, 3,000 broad, and 4 deep, its cu- bic content will be 144 millions of cubic miles, which number divided by 88 gives 1,625,000 for the num- ber of years in which the western ocean would have been filled by the St. Lawrence alone, if no water had been carried off by evaporation or otherwise. Q. 4. The hide being 144 inches long by 96 in hreadth. if it had been first cut lengthwise into pieces one inch broad, this would give 96 pieces each J 44 inch- es long, the whole length of which would be 9b THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 43 multiplied by 144f inches. Now, to enclose a square mile, requires a line 4 miles, or 211 20 feet, or 21 120 multiplied by 12 inches in length. Hence 21120 times 12 1760 ,«, . I z= 1 oi the num- 96 times 14* ■— 96 ber of pieces 96 multiplied by 144 inches long requi- red to encircle a square mile. Therefore, the peices being already only one inch broad, and when of that breadth, extending only 96 tim^s 144 inches, must, in order to extend 1 8j times farther , be each cut into 1 8 J pieces : whence their breadth will be A J °*' TT ^^ °"^ ^"^^* Q, 5. — Allowing one shilling per day, for each in- dividual, it would require the sum of £' 16425,000 000 to provide for the human family one year- g. 6. — It is found that 57 are born and die every minute. And allowing the world to have been in all past ages as populous as it now is, there have lived since the creation 174600000000 persons. Q . 7.— Tt appears, that ^1 1250000 might be sa- ved every day, by rising at 5 instead of 7. Q. 8 — Should one fourth part of the inhabitants of the world deduct one penny a day from superfluities of food and clothing, the sum of ;^342,1 87,500 might in one year be saved for charitable purposes. Q. 9 — According to the best information, not more than about one twentieth part of the world has yet embraced Christianity, Q. 10 — But from the excellency of the Christian system, and from the evidence derived from the Scrip- tures, we may believe that there will be a period when all the world will embrace the gospel, and walk by its divine precepts. Q, 11— And from the calculations of Faher and other commentators, this happy event will take place — C t,xiU ^-- - ..f tv/ov vrx Lii\. /I\.OLUt. WtlV ury, Q. 12— The best method of rendering ourselves H THE CANADIAN VISITOR. B contented and happy is, by gratefully acknowledging the blessing* which we enjoy : remembering howmuch better off we are than thousands of our fellow-men. Miscellaneous Questions; To be anstuered in Number III- 1 What is the reason that we cannot find the sum or difference of two vulgar fractions, unless they have a common denominator ? p j • 2 Why can the sum and difference of two deci- mal* fractions be found without reducing them to a common denominator ? . • r 3. Can any reason be given why nme times tour are equal to four times nine ? . 4. What is the most intelligible way to explam to a be'ginner in arithmetic, the method of borrowing and carrying in subtraction ? ^ 5 What is the cause of that wavmg and undulati- on oi .e air, observed over a warm stove, .yhen pla- ced between the eye and a window or other hght ? 6 What account can be given of a similar undulati- on observed on any plain field towards the close of a tmm summer's day, but particularly on a field not long sown, and before it is covered with vegetation ? 7. Is it the duty of all young people, as soon as they come to the years of maturity, to enter into the marriage state ? i i_ • r 8 What cught to regulate and govern the choice ot parties about to enter into the matrimonial connexion ? 9. Are the amusements and diversions generally practised in this country the best possible ? 10. Is any Education necessary for the middle and lower classes of Society ? , . , r i U. If any, how much, and what kind ot know- ledge ought they to obtain ? 1*2. What ought to regulate the choice of Parents and Guardians of Youth, with respect to the trades and professional employments of those commuted t* their charge ? t» mb THE CANADIAN VISITOR. JULY, 1815. «' Now genial suns and gentle breezes reign, «* And summer's fiairest splendours deck the jJain. «* Exulting Flora views her new born rose, " And all the ground with short-liv'd beauty glows." JULY is the seventh month of the year, the name of which is derived from the Latin Julius, the surname of C Caisar, the dictator, who was born in it. It received this appellation from Mark Anthony, before whose time it was called Quintilius, being the fifth mouth of the year according to the old Ronran Calendar, which commenced in March* The heat of this month renders the luxury of cooling shades pecu- liarly grateful. Welcome, ye shades ! ye bow'ry thickets hail \ Ye lofty pines ! ye venerable oaks ! Ye Ashes wild, resounding o'er the steep ! Delicious is your shelter to the soul. As to the hunted hart the sallying spring. Thompsok. Remariabh EventP*ujhtch occurred In this Month, 4. 1776. The Americans formally renounced all subjection to Glreat-Britain, and declared themselves independent* 5. 1 JOO. Jerusalem was taken by the Crusaders. Impelled by the union of mihtary and religious rage, they put the garrison and inhabitants indiscriminately to the sword. Arms defended not the valiant, nor submission the timorous : neither age nor sex was spa- red : infants on the breast were pierced with the same blow as their mothers who implored mercy. Ten thousand who surrendered themselves prisoners and 46 THE CANAniAN VISITOR. were promised quarter, were batchered in cold blood by those who called themselves the followers of him who was meek and loivly of heart. 6. — 1553. In the 16th year of his age and the 7th of his reign, Edward VI. expired at Greenwich; on whose excellent qualities all the English historians dwell with great pleasure. 7. — 1809. Our venerable and illustrious Monarch gave a hundred pounds, and on the 6th of Novem- ber following a similar sum, to support the new sys- tem of Education for the benefit of the poor, who are the most nun)erous class in the country, the sinews of its strength, or the rapid movers of its ruin. Educa- tion teaches man to act, not from custom or fashion, but from good principle. Attention to the instruction of the common people, is, therefore, good domestic policy ; a nation can be truly and durably great only in proportion to its virtue ; which is not comprised in the uprightness of a few individuals, but comprehends the integrity of the great mass of the community. FORBIGN INTELLIGENCE. In our last we mentioned our fears tliat the destroy- ing sword would soon again be unsheathed between the Tyrant of Europe and the*Allied powers. The latest dates arrived at this period, inform us the dread- ful carnage had not yet begun. War is formally de- , clared between Austria and Murat« and considerable advantages liave been gained by the former. The Al- lied i^'owers have entered into some resolve* respecting the iveatment of prisoners of war, which have the ap- pea'.aiice of much severity. War id at best a dreadful calamity; we, therefore, indulgethe hope, these may only prove like mere threats for the purpose of intimi- dation. Spain lias joined the cause of the Allies, and a part of the Spanish army was actually said to be march- ing towards France, Instead of confusion and disorder^ THE CANADIAN VISITOn. W Spain is said to be in a state of profound tranquility. The new modification of the French Constitution: and the abolition of the Slave-Trade by Bonaparte, are events of considerable iniportance. It is, perhaps, unfair to attribute the conduct even of a bad man, always to the worst of motives. Yet, such has hither- to been the conduct of Bonaparte, that it seems a mat- ter course that he should act ill, and that if he does any thmg that appears good to the world, it n.u8t be changed into evil as it relates to himself, by the vile motive whence it proceeds and the hypocritical cn4 it regards. Wonders it is said will never cease, and among the prodigies of the 19ih Century, must be numbered the whimsical idea of Gnstavus the deposed Sovereign of Sweden, of undertaking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Some minds are of such a texture that public notice they must have, and if it cannot be obtained by a wise and honoiable conduct, folly and superstition must be called into exercise to feed the idol of their fancy. We really thought that the absurdity, folly, and idle superstition of pilgrimages by christians had been entirely exploded, and had bidden us an everlast- ing farewell. _ DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE, m The last month, weave sorry to statf*, has been ra- ther fruitful in accidents. The first of tb-se took place; on the night cf June 12. A fire unfortnuately broke out in the steerage of the Saragosa Transport, Capt. Grice. Three companies of the 57th Regiment were on board, but by the prompt exertions of the boats of. H. M. Ships and Transports in the harbour, we be- lieve all the persons on board were safely conveyed en shore. The vessel was run aground at the moutli of the St. Charles, where she burnt to the water's edge. On the 19th a second accident took place. A canoe- E 2 4S TIIE CANADIAN VISITOR. i« ' I in which were three Canadians and two Indians, crosa- ing from Point Levi to town, was upset. Two of the Canadians and one Indian were lost. On Sunday night of 25thin8t. the Steam Boat unfortunately run f»ul of a raft of logs, which it broke to pieces a little be- low the Richelieu. Four men were on the raft, three of whom clang to the Boat, The other was neatly drowned, but by timely exertions was snatched from a watery grave. We feel happy in noticing the endeavors which are used to convey the benefit of vaccine innoculation to the country villages, 'i'he utility of the .Icnnerian system has been long tried, and too gicat praise cannot well be paid to those gentlemen wlio exert themselves to crradicate a disease, so painful, loathsome and dange- rous as the small pox. It is with no small gratification we observe some at- tention paid to the internal improvement of Quebec, in paving the roads. No place in the world perhaps has been so long in the possession of the British, and had so little respect paid to its improvement as this ci. ty. Nothing can scarcely be more ludicrous and at the same time more vexatious, than the scene exhibit- ed of a dark winter's night, for want of proper lights through the city. In every direction people are gro- ping about with a little spark at their heels like so ma- ny glow worms, while to the no small amusement of idle boys and others, they are thrown on the snow and ice by the vevy care, they are obliged to employ to prevent it. From whatever cause the omission pro- ceeds, it justly excites the surprise of almost every vi- sitor who has to pass a winter here. No doubt, were proper exertions made, voluntary subscriptions suffi- cient to accomplish the object might be obtained, as there are few who reside in the city, who do not some- times see or rather feel the need of such a convenience.. THE CANADIAN VISITOR. C^^^r ON EDUCATION. (Continued from our last.) THE School consisting on this day, twenty-third of March, 1812, of seventy children, of both sexev, ii divided into eight clashes ; which are distinguished nu- merically, reckoning from the lowest upwards Each class is under the direction and tuition of a teacher or monitor. The teachers and their classes are under the inspec- tion and superintendancc of the monitor general. The schoolmistress watches and presses over the whole. The school room is ^7 feet long, and 16 feet wide. Parallel with its shorter sides are placed single movea^ ble desks and forms ; the ends of which are about 1 1 foot from the wall on one side of the room : on the other side there is a space, the whole length of thfc room, and about ^\ feet in breadth, which is used for the common passage of the school, and for the classes to assemble in, to say their lessons. The desks being single, all the children sit facing one way ; those in the eighth, or highest class, with their backs nearly close to the wall. At the other end of the room, in front of the first or lowest class, there is a space, 16 feet, the breadth of the room, by 7 feet, the distance of the first desk from the wall, where the classes also as- semble, as in the space before meniioned, to say their lessons to their teachers. In these two spaces four classes, or one half of the whole school, can assemble, at the same time, with tolerable convenience. The desks are 10 feet in length, 16 inches in breadth, and 26 to 31 inches in height. They would answer our purpose nearly as well, if they were 9 or 1 inches only in breadth : which would give us about 4 feet to the space at the lower end of the room. Underneath each desk, and running the whole length of it, are three laths or strips of wood. The two up- per and outer ones rest on, and ^re nailed to, the up- E 3 50 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. per surfaces of the cross bars, which bind together its front and hind legs ; the lower and middle one is nail- ed to the under surfaces of the cross bars?. These form a sort of cradle, in which the children deposit their hats and bonnets. By this simple contrivance much noise and confusion are prevented ; as every child, thus having its hat or bonnet within its reach, or so near as easily to be handed to it by the other children of the class, is enabled quietly to leave the school, the instant the order is given by its teacher. In front of each desk there is room lefc sufficient for a person to pass. It is desirable that each class should have its sepa- rate desk : but it frequently happens that the class is too large to admit of this ; in which case the children at the bottom of the class are turned over to the desk next below their own. For the purpose of ventilating the room, seven trap doors, each ttbout 1 4* inches square, moving on hinges, and opening into the chambers above v., are placed in the ceiling ; and two of much larger dimensions, in the ceUing of one of those chambers. These last opeti in- to the roof which is common pantile, laid on without mortar. The trap doors being always kept up when the sdiool is assembled, the necessary circulation of air is obtained. A clock stands in a conspicuous part of the room ; and is an article of furniture indispensably necessary in a school, where much depends on the regular distribu- tion of time. The children assemble at nine in the morning ; go to dinner at one, dudng the summer ; assemble again at two, and leave school at five : but in the winter, they dine at a quarter before one ; assemble again at a quarter before two ; and leaveschool earlier or later, ac- coi ding to the length of the days ; as some of the chil- dren live at the distance of three miles from the school. Fn.im nine to half nast nine all the children, ex- cept those in the two lower classes, wiite copies under THE CANADIAN VISITOR. St the siiperintcndance of the respective teachers, either on slates or in copy-books j each child having before him a copper-plate copy pasted on wood or pasteboard. At half past nine the business of the school, as about to be described, commences, and continues until twelve ; at which time the children in the upper part of the school break up their reading lessons, and form into arithmetic classes ; in which they are exercised under their respective teachers until dinner time. In the mean while those children who have passed through the second class, but are too young to learn arithmetic, either write copies, or are allowed to improve and a- muse themselves wi:h looking over their lesson books. The greater part of the girls are engaged, during the whole of the afternoon, in needle-work, knitting, straw plaiting, or some other such work of industry ; which of course breaks in upon the regularity of the system. But from the consideration of what impor- tance it is that females should be accustomed early to such useful employments, the inconvenience arising from this interruption is cheerfully submitted to : as indeed it would be, were it much greater than in fact it is. The boys still go on, for the most part, ai in the morning ; as do those few girls who happen not to be provided with work. But notwithstanding this ad- ditional practice on the part of the bovs, I have not observed that the girls find any difficulty in retaining their stations in their classes. This is to be accounted for, partly, from the circumstance of their being still within hearing of what is going on in their respective classes, though not actually engaged in it ; but prin- cipally, I believe, from the well known fact, that girls are more docile and attentive than boys. The plan of instruction is carried ou almost entirely through the agency of the scholars themselves j the school being divided, as was before stated, into eight classes ; each under the tuition of a teacher. The teachers are sunnlied bv the seventh and eicrlith classes. Most of the children in the seventh class, and all, cx- Vi / 52 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. cept the head child, in the eighth class, take their turns for an hour at a time, as teachers to the other classes: and at the expiration of the hour, the chlK dren who have been acting as teachers are called back to their classes ; and a new set ia appointed. This change of teachers is under the direction of the head child of the school j who is the permanent teacher of the eighth class. The monitor is selected from the best and steadiest children of the eighth class j and is relieved at the same lime, and by the same directions as the teachers. His usual station is at the inner extremity of the first, or front desk ? where either seated on the desk or stand- ing on the form, and thus facing the classes, he has an opportunity of observing accurately both their con- duct, and that of their teachers. If a child oifends in any way, the monitor instantly cautions him aloud ; and if the offence is repeated, he is again cautioned, and his name is set down, with a mark opposite to it, on the monitor's slate : and for every new offence com- mitted, the caution is repeated, and an additional nark set down. Before the school separates, the monitor's slate is examined by the schoolmistress ; and if more than three or four marks appear opposite to any child's name, confinement, or some other punishment, is in- flicted. ' . The monitor frequently leaves his station, to assist an unpractised teacher ; to inspect the slates of the se- veral classes ; or, generally speaking, to perform any office that may be conducive to the discipHne and good order, and consequently, to the improvement of the children* (To be continued in our next,) THE CANADIAN VISITOR. SS On the Excellency of Order, Though the advantages of order art almost self-evi- dent, yet many pay little attention to it in their own conduct. To assist such as are desirous of becoming methodical, it will be proper to define what is mtended by order, and to point out its utility in domestic con- cerns, in social transactions, in the distribution of time, and in literary pursuits. The quality now recommend- ed means not such a rigid adherence to any system, or mode of regulation as to preclude any alteration ; but a wise arrangement of every concern suited to its pecu- liar nature, and a judiciouo variation when circumstan- ces really require it. Tlie excellency of order is visi- ble—First — In domestic concerns. Regulations are requisite in every family, especially in such as are large; yet rigour should not be employed unkss mild means are fou "d completely ineffectual. Morality in the heads of the family, subordination in children and servants, and prudent management in domestic expenditure, are among the first branches of ofder. Children and do- mestics should be lequired to rise every morning in proper time, and ought not, therefore, to be kept up loo late at night. True, indeed, the heads of the fa- mily must set the example, or no proper order will be preset ved. Much deliberation bhould be used before rules are introduced into a house ; they should be sim- ple and concise, and when once adopted regularly en- forced. Nothing shows greater weakness in the heads of a family than frequent changes in any part of their domestic government. As, therefore, order is the foundation of union and the source of peace, it cannot fail of being highly beneficial in a family, — Secondly — In social transactions- Many who en- tirely depend on business for their support, yet keep their accounts in a most disorderly state. Hence arises so many instances of failure in business. Were it ne- cessary to mention examples of the benefit of order in laro-e bodie* of men- the good effects of the strict re- gufations of armies and fleets might be noticed. The ^ THE CANADIAN VISITOR. following anecdote of Lord Burleigh, who was prih. cipal Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth, will sug- gest the best method of transacting much pubhc busi- ness. When asked how he could dispatch?© nr.uch business in so short a time, he answered, that he did it by the observance of order in every hour of the day, and imraediateiy added, «• I find that the shortest way to manage a great number of matters, is to do only one thing at a time.'* The best speakers at the bar, in the senate, and in the pulpit, have arrangements in their speeches, though perhaps not numerically men- tioned. Order is essentially necessary in the various' branches of public and private education. In the be* haviour and conversation of persons of genteel educa- tion and learning, we may observe method though without any stiff precision. Order, indeed, is the bund and support of society. Thirdly— /« the distribution of ^/W.^— Time is cer- tainly a great blessing, yet, to be truly useful, it must not only be employed tor valuable purposes, but its various portions wisely arranged. Dr. Blair, has the following excellent remarks on this part of the subject — " Where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidents, all things lie huddled toge- ther, and admit neither of distribution nor review. On the contrary, he who every morning plans the transac- tions of the day, and follows out that plan, carries on a thread which will guide him through the labyrinths of the most busy life. All the parts of the day must have their appropriate allotment of time ; thus the hours of hospitality or of recreation should Qot interfere with the discharge of necessary duties, and they must not en- croach on the time due to devotion and study — Besides, the principle of order should be equally carried ; for it will be vain that we are orderly in our general conduct and not in the distribution of time, or in our domestic affairs and not in our literary concerns. Uniformity is ^\\r\\f£x fill tKin/va i-iA/«occf3t*ir t/\ i"/»ilf\ tn** frillt of mil* or- t »^. V ^, •^'.»t» f der,^ind that in small as well as in great affairs* t» THE CANADIAN VISITOa. 55 Thus far Dr. Blair. To his excellent observations we may add the following anecdote of Alfred the Great. He divided every day into three portions, the first for settling the concerns of his government^ the second for studying tlie arts and sciences, and the third for devo- tion. Very few, indeed, can portion out their time any thing like this ; nor is it necessary ; but all such may be said ** to live at random" who have not stated times of doing most things. Lastly — In literary pursuits. It is to be regretted, that the majority of those who are fond of bocks, pe- ruse them merely for amusement : and hence they are superficial and immethodical in their reading. Should, however, any such wish to read in a profitable man- ner, there is no book in the English language so like- ly to assist them as Dr. Watt's on the Improvement of the Mind. As to order, they will find excellent rules for thinking and reading methodically in the two last chapters of Dr, Watt's Logic. Some men of genius have objected to order as unnecessary for .them. Miss Hannah More has well answered their pretended reasons for not observing order in their studies. ** As some men of genius" says «he " think that they are not to be confined to order, they seem to value them- selves on their disdain of it. It is true, indeed, that such as have an inventive faculty, can produce literary works sooner and better than others, but not without most of the usual preparatives. A contrary supposi- tion is an error which infects many minds of a superior cast ; for there is no such thing as catching knowledge entirely by intuition or seeing every thing at a glance. All great minds, who have the opportunity, should use sdl the usual means in a regular manner for improve- ment, and most of eur best authors have done so. Be- sides, if such wonders can be performed without the old ingredients of time, study and method what might fiot a genius expect would be accomplished with their asu«tance ? This error is also adopted by some who have no genius^ the consequence of which is likely to 56 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. be, that they will remain very superficial, while others by labour and order become wise and learned. Queen Elizabeth had fixed hours for study and other thmgs to the very last year of her life. On the whole, therefore, it is evident that regulari- ty is excellent, as it is an imitation of all the produc tions of nature and the best works of art— as many most eminent and useful persons have been conspicuous for their attention to it— as it is beneficial to society at large and to individuals of every rank. Proud Benevolence- About the year 1750. a very witty man went to St. James's Palace, to visit one of the pages, whose apartment was two pair of stairs high. Un leaving his friend he half slipped and half tumbled down a Svhole flight of steps ; and probably whh his head burst open a closet door ; we say probably because the un- lucky visitor was too completely stunned with the fall to know what had happened* Certain it is that he found himself, on his recovery, setting on the floor of a small room, and most kindly attended by a neat little old gentleman, who was carefully wiping his head with a towel, and fitting with great exactness, pieces of sticking plaister to the variegated cuts which the accident had produced on the unfortunate visitor's sconce. For some time his surprise kept him silent, W finding that the kind physician had completed his ^pe^tion, and even picked up his wig, which he re- cced on his battered head, he rose from the floor, and hmping towards his benefactor, was about to utter a profusion of thanks for the succour he had recejved, with inquiries into the manner how his misfortune had happened. These, however, were instantly checked by an intelligent frown, and by a significant wave of the hand towards the door of the closet The patient ^j-_... 1 »u<> tiinf jinrl /Ipnnrtpd wonderincr how 80 much hnmanity and unsociableness could reside tof-^ ;^^' I HE CANADJAN VISITOR. Si tlier in the same breast. His won der, however, ceas- ed, when, on describing the situation of the closet, he found he had been indebted for the kindness received^ to the first personage in the kingdom, who, after ha- ving exercised the benevolence of the man, found too much of the dignity of the monarch about him, ta support a conversation with the person he had assisted. Infidel Alarmed^, As the late Saml. Forrester Bancroft, Esqr. in hii travels through North America and the Canadas, tra- versed an extensive lake of the Northern States, in a vessel on board of which was Volney^ notorious for his atheistical principles, a heavy storm cstme on, inso- much that the vessel was expected to go down every instant, the mast having gone by the board, the helm quite ungovernable, and the whole scene exhibiting confusion and horror. Many passengers both male ;ind female were on board, but not one exhibited suck marks of fearful despair as Volney. He threw him- self on the deck, now impl||png, now imprecating the Captain, and reminding him that he had engaged to carry him safe to his destination, and vainly threaten-^ ing him in case of failure. As the probability of lots increased, this great mirror of nature began loading all the pockets of his coat, waistcoat, breeches, and every place he could think of with dollars to the amount of some hundreds, and thus, as he thought, was preparing to swim for his life. Mr. Bancroft remonstrated with him on his folly, saying he would sink like a piece o!^^ lead. At length, as he became so noisy and unsteady as to impede the the management of the boat. Mr, Bancroft pushed him down the hatchways. Volney soon came up again, having left his dollars below, and in the agony of his mind, threw himself on the deck» exclaiming with uplifted hands and streaming eyes ;— •*,.;0A, man Dleu / mon Dieu I — yn'w/ xe que je praif F 58 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. «,V// ci qui je ferci I O my God, my God what Ihali I do, what •hall I do.— This so surprised Ban- croft, that though the moment did not well accord with flashes of humour, he could not avoid addressing him, " Eh bien I Mont Volney ! vous ave% done un DUu a present." Well Mr. Volney, what, you have a God now To which Volney replied with the most trembling anxiety. Oh out, out \ O yes, yes I— 1 he fhip, however, got safe, but afterwards, like a mo- dern French Philosopher he said those words escaped hi«i in the hour of alarm, but had no meaning. Description of the Hag Fish. There is perhaps, no animal existing, which, in iti appearance and habits, is in every inspect so surpnsinj^ as this. Linnaeus, MuUer, and Fabricms, all describe it as a species of worm; but later naturalists, convin- ced from an accurate examination of its external and in- ternal structure, have decided its place to be amongst the cartilaginous fishes In its general Jeiigth, the Ha^-fish usually measures from six to eight inches, ilts body is eel shaped and •lippery. In its cylindrical form, the flexibility of its parts, and the Viscosity ui its skin, it has a near resem- blance to some of the smaller kinds of lampreys It does not, however, appear to have either a tongu? or nostrils ; and it is perfectly destitute of eyes, those or- gans which, to most other animals, are so necessary towards providing and securing themselves frpm the at- tacks of their enemies Bpt the Hag fish is not, on this account, to be considered as left by the Creator imperfect, or as unsupplied with every sense which is requisite to its support and protection. It is furnished with a sense of touch so accute, as to be an ample equivalent for the want of tight, and fully to supply it with the means of existence. ^ ^ ^ The Hag fish is an inhabitant oi me ocean, ar^" though not found on every coast, is in some places so TttE CANABIAK VISITCR. 59 abundant as to prove very injunous to llie fishermen. These animals enier the boUies i>t bucii fish as are caught by hooks, which remain some lime under Wa- ter ; and it is said, that they Irequently devour the tvhole, except the bones ai.d skm. They first fix themselves firmly, by placing their oval mouths against the object they are aboui to devour, and form a vacuum underneath. Having done this, they render their hold secure by means of a kiitd of hook with which their palate is fui niched > and they are then ena- bled without impedmient, to employ their teeth in gnawmg their food. Any water wriich may be found inconvenient to them there, they squirt oui through a hole at the top of iheir head. So strongly do they adhere lo their prey, that it is a difficult matter to re- move them by force, without tearing them to pieces. But the most remarkable circumstance relative to these fish, is their property of thickening water in which they are kept, in such a manner that it attains the consistence of glue This change they effect in a very short time, and its viscosity often becomes so great, that it may be drawn out into threads, which will dry in the air. Professor Ka^gires the following account of this circumstance : — ^ro put one of these fishes inta ^ latge bason of sea water ; and on examining it about an hour afterwards, be found it filled with a thick whitish fluid, resembling clear and transparent glue. On dipping a pen into this fluid, he drew it out into threads ; and on removing the fish from the bason, the viscous matter which was attached to it extended about an inch, and had the exact appearance of a small icicle* At length the water became so extremely thick, that in drawing it from the bason like a cord or string, the fish was actually dragged along with it. The profes- spr replaced the water with a fresh supply, and put the fijjh into this ; and in the course of little morq than a quarter of an hour it became nearly as viscous as the 'd bv several fiahermeo. F 2 a - y? E?e\. s e 60 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. that a quantity of water that would fill half a boat^ had been converted by these fish into a glue equally strong with that which has been mentioned. From the habits above described it wilt follow, that the appearance and structure of these animals must al- so, in many respects, be very different from those of any other fish. The mouth, contains on each Aide, a double row of teeth, which are fiome what in the form of a comb or pectinated bone ; and in the middle, there i? a single curved and sharp pointed tooth. On each side of the moiith there are two cirri, or beards ; and, in front of the top of the head, a small spout hole, furnished with a valve, by which it can, at the pleasure of the animal, be opened or closed. This is surround- ,td vvnh fcur beards. The body is destitute of scales^ 'feierdl V'.me, and of every kind of fin, except that at the posterior extremity of flie belly, which commences towards the lower part of the back, passes round the tail, and terminates, undcniealh, near the vent. The gills, like those of the lamprey's, consist of vesicles or bags, which communicate with the mouth, and termi- rate on each side in a single external opening. Along each fide of the lower parU)f the belly there is a row of pores', which extends fr3|the head to the vent, and from which, on pressure, a viscous fluid exudes. The general colour of these fish is bluish on the back, reddish on the sides, and white on the belly. Hag fish are found in most of the European seas. THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 61 POETRY. Verses by Mr. James Montgomey, on ihe death of the Rev. Thomas Spencer, of Liverpool, who was drowned, while bathing in the tide, on the 5lh of August, 1811, in the 2l8t year of his age. On earth, in ocean, Ay and aJr, All that is excellent and fair, ' Seen, felt or understood From one eternal cause descend^ To one eternal centre tend*, IVith God b^ns, continues, 'end% ^< The source «mI stream of good. |^ Him through all nature I enllic^ Him in his creatures ladort ^^^ •> But clearest llftfie hiunan mini His bright resemblance when k' find Gnndeur with purity combUi'^ ^ I most admire and love. O ! ihere was one, on earth awhile He dwelt; but transient at «.«mile That turns into a tear; His beauteous knage ^passed us by ; He came like lightening from the sky As prompt to disappear. Sweet in his undissembling mein Were genius, candour, meekness^ seei^ The lips ihM lov'd the truth ; The single eye iriiose glance sublime Look'd to eternity through time ; The soul whose hopes Were wont to climb Above the joys of youth. Of old, ^before the lamp grew dadr, Reposing near the sacred ark, The child of Hannah's prayer Heard, throu|^ the temple's silent roun^ A linng vmce $ nor knew the sound iTiai thrice alarmed him, ere he found vMtf Lord who el^ue him there. r s ■ : I 62 THE CANADIAN VISWOVT. n I ^ Thus early call'd, and strongly mov d, A prophet from a child approv d, Sfkncbh his course began ; From strength to .trengU,. from grace to grace, Swiftest and foremost in the race, He carried victory in his face, He triumphed as he ran» The loveliest star of evening's train Sets earliest in the western main, ^ And leaven the world In oWit , The brightest star of n»ornii« * host, Scarce risen, in brighter beams Is lost .- Thus sunk>is form on ocean s coast, Thus sprang Ws soul to light. # A^^ Revolving hie roy'8i*b«» liTt Imoumliinb«tIP|&i8eH||P ToG^« kthe Whosel HisVovenant Athwart the . Tfhen vanish "to-glpw,— I heaven. . Epitaph on Mary Vanl,utchel1. ^ho -» P^^^^^^^ V»^y h^r%u8ba«di written ^J^'^'^'y^^^^ Baker, bart. M. D. Physician lo the Royal l^am y —Translated from the Latm. Here cover'd, not by earth or stone. Lies John Vanbutchell's wife alone i His pleasure, joy, and sole desire, Quite uncorrupted andfeotire r Who was preserv'd by ^^^^ When death had shot his fatal dart. Behold her now 'gainst natures wil> With face so fair and blooming still. O Husband blest ! who in one house Can still retain one charming spouse, W» Who now exists not as you see The fates would choose to h/ve her ^e^. More firm her Hesn, .i-orc iu» - ^- . And fitter for domestic use *, 1 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. O fortunate and envied Van ! ^ To keep a wife beyond life's spaa : Whom you can ne'er have cause to blame» Is ever constant and the same ; Who qualities most rare Inherits, A wife that *s dumb yet full of spirits. 6f ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PROPOSED IN THE LA-ST NUMBER— PAGE 44. QUESTION !• Vulgar fractions cannot be added unless they have a common denominator, because, "^^^^ '^'J ^?;l'J;^: ferent denominators, they are not things of the «me nature. The unit, of which they are parts, is diffe- rentlv divided ; and, therefore, the parts, being of dit- "^ values, ^an no move be con.bined into one sum than shiUings and pence can without ^ed«ct,on ; or pounds and ounces, or hours and "^'-f^^^'^^l^^^l. rhioRS of which the individuals are of different values Thus, it is impossible to add \ and |, because a half and a third, are not things of equal value, or ca^)a. bk of combining into one sum. But, it H ea»y;o add 3 and 4, becau.! they both suppose the unit of which , ?hey a?e' parts, to be equa^Y ^-i^ed, or to conta^v «. eS number of parts. They are as readily combined as 3 ShiUings and* shiU.ngs, (which are ^ and ,^ ot a pound) •, or 3 inches and 4 inches, {,\ and ^^ of a feot), on any other like parts of any un.t. '' ' Arenarius (the Proposer.) O 2 —Decimal f.actions may be added without re- aucti'on'to a con.n.on denominator because t^^^^^^^^ already a common denominator. In fact, the rule tor red!cL vulgar f.actions to decimal ones, is neither more nor less'than a method of bringing all fractions Xtever or parts of the same un.t, to fractions of the ^me denominator, or to sinnlar pausof that uni^ This method is complete as far as they can be redu ced tv. finite decimals, all .uch having on€ common and invariable dcuomiuaior* 64 THE Cj£^AX)IAN VISITOR. Thus, \ znf\ are equal to ,\y and t'^Vo* O'* 'o yvGJS ^^^ ivW* commonly expressed thus, ,5 and .125 or .500 and .125. When the decimals to be added have not the same nnmber of places, it is not necessa^ ry to annex cyphers to that which has fewer ; because, in adding them they are placed with their left hand di- git exactly under each other, so that they are added just a9 if cyphers were actually annexed totbe rights of that which has the less number of places. Arsnarii7s. Q, S —— The reason usually assigned it, that 9 times 4 are j^, and 4 times 9 are 36 ; therefore, being both equal to the same number { they^are equal to each other,, according to the axiom, ** Things whif^ are equal to the same tiling, are equal to each other." But we naturally look for a demonstration of this property of numbers, which should be independent of the result ; and which should arise from the nature of the factofs themselves without regard to the product. . A B For this purpose, let us sup- pose the figure A B C D to ' represent four rows of objects^ ' D C as for example, trees $ and let each row contain nine trees, all placed at equal distan- ces, arid the first trees in the several rows being in a straight line. Then, it is manifest, that the figure may also be considered as consisting of nine rows, each con- taining four trees. And the figure being the same in whi at proper intervals, and with sufficient care, every pu- pil of ordinary capacity will not only be able to repeat it, but will have the pleasure and satisfaction of under- standing why he does so Arenarius.. g. 5. — The air in the vicinity of the stove being warmer than that above or at a distance from ir, is ex- panded in consequence, and of less specific gravity. Tt • ^\ f j:^^}^^^a Utr tKA /•ntrlpr air above. it l5| mCiCiurc, uispiav.->.u 1^7 i"^ — ^ — " 65 filE CANADIAN VISITOR. which descends By iis own superior weight, and causes the treniulotts motion in question. The uitdulationi produced in this manner, is rendered visible by unequal refi-actioh of the rays of light, the cold nd dense air refracting theirs much more than that which is warm andrarified. Arenarius. g 6.— Towards evening when the sun has beat all day upon a smooth field, its surface becomes so heated as ro produce the same undulation of the air, and a re- fraction of the rays of light, as have been observed to take place over a stove. Arenarius Q 7. In all ordinary cases we answer yes. But there are aome circumstances in which persons should cer- taitily remain single. Among these are a naluial ina- bility lo provide for a family, the existence of a scro- phulous habit of bodyj or a travelling life which pre- cludes the possibility t>f having a home or of taking the i)bj(ct of affection in company. In the two former instances marriage can only engender poverty and pro- pogate disease ; in the latter instance it is scarcely pos- sible to be productive of happiness to either party, or to answer the pru.clpal end of the union. Q 8. In entering the marriage state similarity of dis- position and of education with equality of rank in so- ciety, seem essential to enjoyment. Affection should not be a transient passion, the off-spring r{ caprice or incident, but a tri'Dute paid to real excellence. The happiness arising from a connection formed chiefly for the sake of heauty^ wealth, or nvorldly hf*nor rests on a foundation of sand; its tenure must be precarious and its duration will probably be short. That which has virtue and religion for its basis, will stand the shock of adversity, and produce an unfailing source of rati- onal enjoyment. (). 9. Every sensible person in his sober and unpreju- diced moments, will own, that the amusements, gene- ate i>\i\. ' calculated to be useful. It must be acknowledged %• TH8 CANADIAK VISITOR. 67 that the Card Table ield§ some enjoyment, but the conversation is so trtAu.j and the gratiHcation so low, ; that were some nurse *.f Herculean strength, to take > the man of forty from the circle and dandle him in her arms, while she renewed to his little mind the prtttu prattUdiw&iiXvcVf it would be as instructive and (coufd he for »hame bring his mind to bear it) yield as eleva- ted enjoyment as that from which he had so recenth| been forced. The conversation of this species of ^ musement, if written, would be a burlesque on reason^ and if read, a disgrace to him whose face was not co- vered with blushes more red than crimson.-— Dancing has one advantage, as it exercises the body, and for little Matters and Misses not yet arrived at their teens^ is a healthy and useful recreation. But to see young . gentlemen and ladies, some of whom scarcely under- stand the first principles of literature ; fathers and mo- thers of families, the domestic instruction of whose children is neglected, and sometimes grey hairs and wrinkled visages, who should especially be preparing . for death, ttkiping about like gaudy butterflies on a summer's day, reflects but little honor on the rational- ity of mankind. Besides these improprieties, the waste of time, the dissipatipn of mind, the foundation of consumptions and death which have been laid in the Ball-rot.m, are ir.superable objections to this kind of amusement. The time which reason and nature re- quire to be devoted to recreation, might, with more profit and much more honor, be spent in walking, ri- ding and other kinds of active and innocent amusement, and would prepare both body an4 mind for the busi- ness of life and the duties of religion. Q. 10. Whether any education be necessary for the middle and lower classes of society, is a question which has been differently decided by men of candour and good sense. That some education is necessaiy pr very iinportaDt even for the lowest classes of society* is now roost se* r.erally acknowledged ; but 68 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. Q. lU How much, and what kind of knowledge is a very important inquiry. It certainly can have no bad eflfeet to teach servants and common laborers how to read and transact the necessary business pf life. To say that this would make them proud and raise them above their rank in society, is not founded in reason ; fbr were all taught to read, 'write, &c. there would be^ raore^reason for the exercise of pride, than there isTir being proud of having a hat or cap to cover the head. This would, of course, be the occasion of pride and envy were only a part of the community permitted to wear them. Just so it is with respect to learning. It ceases to have any bad effect when it becomes ge- neral ; as may be seen by looking at Scotland and the best informed parts of England. Q. 12. —To regulate parents and guardians of youth, in pointing out the professional employments for those committed to their charge, we jvould recom- mend, that particular attention be paid to the natural taste and genius of children ; for if a child be crowded into any employment which is not agreeable to him or which is not suitable to his genius, he never will excel or ever become respectable in his profession. It is not very essential what part we act on the stage of life ; but it is of very great importance that we act well the part which we may choose— -For as Pope says, ** There all the honor lies.** MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN No. 4. 1. There is a number which being multiplied by i of « and divided by 3|, and the quotient subtracted from 1 1, leaves nothing : required that number ? 2. If a certain number be multiplied by ^ and divi- ded by \t and if it be taken from the quotient, the square root of the remainder is 1 ; what is that number ? 3. What is the difference in English inches between an English square foot and a circWone French foot in diameter ? ibm «- TBS CANADIAN VISITOR. AUGUST, 1815. t <• Ripen'd by autumnal sine*, *• Kich the golden harvests ris« ; *• While the loaded orchards gleun ** Ruddy to the mellowing b^m*" AUGUSr the eighth month of our 7«ar, wa§ de*. dicaied to the honor of Au^us us CwJar, became in the same month he was created consul^'br chief ma- gistrate, thrice triumphed in Rome, subdued Egypt to the Roman empire and made an end of the civil wars. It was before called SextiUltu or the sixth from March. , « . f 1. 1448. Columbus discovered the Continent m America. 1. 1798. A most important victory was obtain- ed bv Sir Horatio Kelson, over a French fleet near Rosetta, at the mouth of the celebrated river Nile, in the north east pait of Africa. Achievements no lest •plendid may have often graced the naval triumphs d Great Britain ; but history, if we except the memora- ble overthrow of the Spanish armada, does not fiirnisk a parallel to this conque>t, either in exie«»t of exectft. tion or magnitude of advantage ; the whole of the French line of battle ships excepting two, having been either taken, burnt, or destroyid. The gallant Ad^ miial was afterwards created a peer of Great Britain, by the title of Baron Nelson of the Nile. 4. 1804. Admnal L rd Duncan, died sudden- ly on his way to Editiburgh- He was borr at Dun. dee, in Fi)rfar8hire, Scotland, July I, 1731 Through life Admiral Duncan was a man of sincere piety, and felt it an honor to be a christian ; he encouraged reli- gion by his Qjwrn practice, aad constantly eofocced it No.iv'. O 70 VHl tAWADIAN VISITOR. Jb^ he haa the command. When the victory wa» decided whic# fixed his naval rencwn, he ordered tlie crew dlilis ship to be called logeihi r ; and at their iead, on his bended knees, in the pteseice of the cap- tured Dutch Admiral, (who was greatly afFccied with the scene) solemnly and pathetica ly offered up praise , and ihanksgving to the God of Battles ; strongly proving ti.e truth of the assertion that piety aid Cf u- rag^e should be united, and that the latter without the former loses its principal virtue. 14,-14.57. First Printed Book.— The first print- ed book on record is the Book of Psali s by Faust, and Shoeffer his son-in-law, published at the time here mentioned Several works were printed many years before, but as the iiiven'ors wished to keep the secret to themselves, they sold their first printed works as manuscripts. This gave rise to a curious adventure that brought calamity on Fau«t j he began in 1450 an edition of the B)ble which was finished in 146!). He carrud seveial printed copies to Paiis, and oftVung them fo\ sale as manuscripts, he had the n.isfoitiine to be thrown into prison «.n suspicion that he dealt with the i)rv»7— for the French could not otherwise con- ceive how so many books shi.uld so exactly agree in every letter and point, unless the Devil, wh.^in those days of ignorance was thought to be always ii. waiting at every person's elbow, to appear when called f < r in propria persona, and (ffer his servce-, had leit l.lm assistance. Faust, in order to pn^ve that le was i.ot concerned with the irfernal poweis, and to » btam his liberty, was obliged to disclose his secret, and inform the ministers how the work had been done 15. 1769. Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperorof France, was born at Ajacci«>in Corsica. 22.-1773 Died, Ge« rge Lord Lyttleton, the elegant aut or of « Per^ia^. Letters,*' " Dialo ues of the Dead," and a life of King henry the Stcnd. For some time this great Statesman enitrtained doub^fs af the trulfe of Clui^'iwjity, but he no w^^^mt THl CANADIAN VJSITOR .n applied himself seriously to the ttudy'of t^ Script tuies, than he became convinced of their div?* ongii^ From p«rer xnmners, to sublimer £uth Is nature's unavoidable ascent ; An honest deist, where the Gospel shines Matured to aoUer in the Christian ends. What he had learned he endeavoured to teach in 174-7, by " Observations of the Conversion and Apo$- tleship of St Paul," a treatise to which infidelity has never been able to fabricate a specii>u> answer. 23 79. The fiist eruptioii of M«'unt Vesuvius, on rJcord, took place. The eruption was accompa- nied with an eaithquakji wluch overturned several ci- ties Pliny, the natviraUst, being too curious in obser- ving the efftcis of this violent eruption, and staying too long in his friend's house near it, was suffocated by the bu^phurous smoke. gS. 1794. The tyrannical demagogue Robef* %ierre, a name which w.ll be transmitted with infamy to the latest posterity, suffered death at Paris Great numbers were sacuficed to his jealous and dastardly cruelty, duri g his sanguinary administration. 31. 168S. I>ied in Loudon, John Bunyan, the far fam.'d author of the incomparable allegory entitled the *' Pilgrim!^' Progress " The following appropri- ate hue-, allude to this irjrenious author and his pilgrim. thou, whom, borne on fancy's eager wing, Back to the season of life's happy spring 1 pleased remember, and while memory yet Hblds fast her office here, can ne'er forget ; Ingenious dreamer, in whose well told tale, Sweet fiction and sweet truth alike prevwl ; Whose hum'rous vein, strong sense, and simples^ May teach the gayest, make the gravest smile ! Witty and well employed ; and like the Lord* Speaking in parabks his slighted word ; I name thee not, lest so despised a name Sh uld ra ve a sneer at thy deserved fame ; Yet even i transit ry life's late day, Tnat m\ gles all my br w with s ber grey. Revere the ma wh se Pilgrim marks the nad, 4ad guides the pr greu uf the swui lo God, f- n ri CANADIAN VISITOR. FOREIGN miELLIGENGE, Our digest of foreign news, must, nccesRarily, this month, be short: Since our last, European dates have Tmct'o hand, but they -^"1^;^!;^^'" rfficubv^n f«nd of knowledge. We should find no d.fficulry m making suppositions and drawing our conclusions horn them f but^lo indulge in speculation at the FMesene eventful crisis, is too hazardous an attempt. The long •eries of wonders to which we have been almost ren- dered familiar, has not yet, perhaps, been altogethe , completed. Ere another month has made us exit. Pivine Providence may unfold such scenes as wul as- lonish Europe, and fill the V'orld with surprise. At the present period, ircleed, the public mind is prepared to hear something uv common, but, who can say, whe- fher it will accord with public expectation. We shall, therefore, satisfy ourselves with a bare recital of such- fact, as have reached us, and leave our reflections as to the future results, till the unerring hand of time shall point to what they really are. , r»i,« «,„„♦!, By accounts received at the early part of the month, it does not appear that Bonaparte was quite at rest m Fr>M»ce. The cause of the Bourbon family has a few tdvocates, who have done as much as could be expect- ed, considering the general torrent they had to oppose. Their attachment to their ancient hne of monarchs and their dishke of the Usurper, ha-e been sufficiently ma- nfested. They have not contributed any thing ma- terially to the aid of their unfortunate sovereign, but have rlther shown what they would do if c^;<^";"« f"^^^ forbade not-Bonaparte has been diligently fortifying the city of Paris. Six hundred workmen were em- ployed on the height, of Montmartre, their number was daily increasing, and it is said the works w^I be carried on fur the space of ten miles from the S.mc » 1 D~.i« »r» ♦>»«» Marnp. f t« CAMAMAM VlSittfft. n The Austrian troops have triumphed in Italy* Na- ples hcvs surrendered to a British division of ships which threatened to bonr^bard tht city Murat is overthrown, report says he has led to Tt ulon, but little depen* dcncc ciu be placed on this inft>r!r,atioh. The #hote Strength of the Auotrians will now be directed to th* cause of the Allies ; a part of their troops were re* ported to be marching with tlie utmost expcditioil to Savoy and Piedmont. ^ By an article concluded at Vienna^ April SO, 1815, his Britannic Majesty engages to furnish a subsidy of five millions sterHng for the service of the year ending April l8t, 1816» to be divided in equal proportion! btitwetn the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Austri^i and the Emperor of kuasia. In case of peace with France and the Allied Powers before the close of tb« year, a sum, on the seal* of five millions per year, 'H to be paid propottionate to the time expired, together with four months pay to Russia, two months to PrOf* 'sia, and two months to Austria, on the same scale, t of mfortnation, //e have, therefore, but little in ttif* department^ i«orthy the attention of our readers. . ^^ IKE CAMADIAM VISITOR. ON EDUCATION. (Continued from our last.) • The children of ttie first class having to learn the t r "if chVdren. i, plLd . P--bo.rd _or card cc.- Limng. in . large character, .he p^ted tet«l^ch the children are learning, and which, to '^ . ' "^ ' .ttention .o h. form, and to .mpres. .. <:" ^e. mu.d . thev are directed by iheir teacher to •"-«»" ""V.ha. Snger. in the «nd When each c>">f »"^^a; filled the .pace allotted to h.n,. h« ».»■"" *^^\>"X* «*ich he ha. made, and counts their number to the ^5.er forward, and backward., a. he mo.e. on m he fr^nt of the desk. Thi. being done, the .and .. .m- ™d attlv .moothed. the line, drawn, and the tpace. SltdLrby the' teacher 5 and the cl... proceed. •• DuTn'g .hi. practice in the .and the children of thTfim da., are caUed out by the teacher, three ^e. it lea.t, in the cour« of every hour, to .ome S^«n"nt part of the room, where a pasteboard card ZS tl« whole alphabet i. hnng sga.n.t the wX»i .unding befo're it, in a "■"-f'. »« - ouired, each in hi. turn, to name the letter to wh ch ar'eiher point., or to find out the let.cr "h.ph tl« teacher name.. For thi. latter pupoM, th. child i. Xw^"o go cW .0 t:.e card. Should any mistake S Ide b, . child, the one next below him is applied to;T„d » on, to the bottom, and if nece«ary. through the whole of .F-cla..i and the child by whom the ■UtrUUrectified take. theoUce of »U.ho.e who ha« feiled. The teacher himself in no case correct, an cr- tor. until the whole daw has been applied to. Thise regulation., with respect to correcting mi.. THBCAKADIAN VISIT #. 7f or By the strict and cmtimi d attention, haih to tht forms, and the names of the letters, which the exer- cises before mentioned . ^uue and e..8ure lu the child- ren, the knowledge of the alphabet it» soon obtained : and when this is ascertained, by the ficho>)lmistre»i herself, to be the case, they a.c promoted to the se- cond cUfiB. Writing is an essential part of the system of instruc- tion followed in the Enmore school. Immediately^ therefore, on i child being advanced to the second class, whatever his age may be, he is taught to write. In teaching to write the sand is again employed, and nearly in the same manner as in the preceding class. Much greater attention, however, is now given by the teacher lo the con«ct formation of the letters, which is, in this second class, the principal object : whereas, in the first class, the making of the printed charactert was oiily subsidiary to the acquisition of the alphabet. The capitals are first taught in alphabetical order. The children trace then in the sand, with their fore- fingers, after a written or coppcr-plate copy ; or after a copy or pattern made '7 the teacher in the sand This latter method U frequently adopted j in which case, the children are required, fiist, to trace over the pattern itself repeatedly ; and, afterwards, to imitate it. When the capital and small letters hawe thiis bee« gone through with the finger, a skewer is given to each child ; with which he is instructed, by the 'each- er of the class, to f* rm the letters in • he sand He be- gins by making them in pairs, and then proceeds to three or more letters at a time. After this practice has been continued for a few days, each ch id in the ciass is directed, in his turn, to trace out all the let- ters, -capital and small at once ; and for this pwpote he has the whole desk allotted to him ; the remainder of the class being, for the tmie, n)erely spectators. Should any mistake be made by any child in the class, the teacher obliges the class to go over agan. in the laad the letter or letterij in which the error occunre4. TO a CAHAOIAS VMTTOH. 8hi>uia there be na mistake, nor any rnatei ml inaccii- racy in ihe formation f Warren's patent engraved slates , on which ho cop.cs the letter! and little words by the direction a.d under the n. spec- Zn of the teacher. After the practice m the sand, tbis is soon and easily acquii^d ; and ni a very shor ime the children learn to join ti.eir letters with g. eat neatness and readiness. As soon a. th,. is effected, they are removed to lire third class The reading lessons consist of elementary syllable., «r ea y monosyllabic words. The class '« called out to read three times in the course of an hour, f he books being deliver, d out, the child, vi'hom the teach. er thinks proper to fix on, begins by spelling and pro. nouncing the first syllable, or word ; the next child does the same with the following sy table, or word ; and in like manner the rest of the children, to the end of the lesson. After proceeding thus through the les- son three times, they are required to spell out of book all the syllables or words of the lesson, as the teacher calls them over. The same regulations are observed with respect to correcting mistakes, *c. as have been already noticed, in the account of the preceding dasf. (To be continued in our next, J The Mechanism of the Eye* So beautiful and curious is the formation of this in- estimable organ, that to be ignorant of its structure, n to be ignoiant cf one of the most curiou. specimens of art and contrivance wi'h which we can be made ac Quainted. The whole eye is composed of coats, mus- cles, veins, and humours. The tunica, or ixtcnor membrane, called the torvea, is transp^ent, ^nd id birdy that it ca» rewK iko rougfi^ii iaow-^«. «v-...* THE CANADIAN VISITOH. ^ tliat, fherc i« another within, called the «V(»«, vrh\ch is circular and coloured. In tl»e midJle of it there is an opening, which i^ called the pupil, and which ia every eye appears to be black B-hind t is opening, is the crystalline humour, so called from its brilli vnt transparency, and resemblance to chrystal. Under- neath this humour ilieie is a transparent fluid, culled the vitreous hu-nour, because it re.senjblea melted glass. The cavity, or the hinder chamber, betwern the cornea and the crystalline humour, c )ntaiii8 a liquid resem- bling water, whence it is called the aqueous humour. It can recruit itself when a part of it has run out from a wound in the cornea. Six muacles move the eye on all sides, iiise it, lower it, turn it to the right or left, obliquely, or, in fine, as occasion may require. But the most admirable part of this wonderful organ is the retinay or that part of the eye on which the image of every object we behold is impressed. The retina is » membrane wiv'ch lines the inside bottom of the eye. It consists of ex(iuisitely fine tibres, forming a kind of web, which is attached to a nerve that proceeds ira- mediately from the brain, and is called ihe optic nervt. The retina i« not larger than a sixpence ; and when we consider that, in surveying an extensive landscape, a space of twenty or thirty miles, containing hills, dales, mountains, rivers, woods, houses, &c. is painted up- the retina, together with all these objects, the extreme minutene^-s of the picture must fill us with astonish- ment and admiration. The largest mountain we be- hold is so reduced in cize in the image it forms upon the retina, ,a8 to occupy a ?pace not greater than the head of a pin. Objects are rendered visible to us by the rays of light which proceed fro n them, and fall upon our j yes. Tho^ie rays pass through the cornea, the pupil, the aqueous, the cvystaUine, and the vitreous humours, and are collected in a point on the retina, where they paint, with the most perfect exactness, the images of tU, ._.. .,1 ,.k:^/>»r. .•rKari/-<> thpw nrriC4»ed- The raVS i«e SCvCtdi Wj-Vl- rTH'.«i»<-» »-^- T g-- - r THB CAWADIAK VISITOR. excites percepti...,. a..d ideas .n ,t conformable to h. i"prc.si«n. which .he outward objec.s make up« the brain. It i. highly worthy of remark, .hat thot.gl. we .;:ijec..exa'ly « the/are .n natu,e. .he ™age-f Shem are invariably l.a.t.ted up^.de down upon ih.: ra.na. _ I On Sensibility. The question has f.equer.tly been discuMtd, whe- tber the possession of .en4bi\i.y is, on the vrho e, a source of greater pain or pleasure ; and to us ^t ap. p'aX that^hose refined and delicate emotions of the «nirit\.-hich we denomii.ate sensibility, wer. gracious- ly implanted in the hear* to sweeten ^^^ filter dre^ Sf human life, by pleasures, which, as they exi t m the imagination, are as impensbable as the ^-^^<^^ ^^^ which They emanate. Maa is exposed J.o «uch n>n«. „erable calan,ities, and subjecr. to such ^^^^J^f^^ vicissitudes of fortune, that was ^^PP^f !^^"^"^7,^f': pendent on the casual occurrences of hfe, nuafortune might engross ^he whole of our attenticMi, ar.d involve Ts in perpetual complaint and endless affl ction. The possession of sen^ibilty, however, renders us suscepU. ble of all the charms and eudearmems of friendship, and all the pleasures to be derived from aifetiionate in- tercourse and the exerci.e of recipr.>cal ar.eution and kindness. It invigorates every amiable prupeusity ot the heart, a-^d incue. .o the pracnce ol benevolence and humanity. To a nund of sens.bdny, tb^re is an inexure sible satisfaction m the perfon.ance of abene, voJent action ; aud to relieve the nec.ssit. us, to pro- tec: the helphss, a..d to obtani justice fi>r toe injured, affords more exq ist: pleasure than can be con- ferred by the ev'.ne.cent n^ag.i ficeuce and '"^"'T °^ the world. Thus he wh.. b- stows h^s bounty on the «)t oiilv r.a.nuu:>'.fi-i wajj".-' wret but Uai^\i participates in she felicity he imparta. THE CANADIAMT VISITOR. 79 hef»< s and , and :o the yu the gh we rges of retina. , whe- u>1e» a it ap- of the acious- r dregs ixiii in ce from h inr.u- roidnblc rc]y de« sfurtune involve . The luscepti- endship, oiiate in- ition and ensity of icvolence lere is an )f abene-: , to pro- e injured, be con- 'iuxuvy of ty I'O the to oiher«s >arts. To be callous to all impressions of pity, and insen- lible to t^ie allurements »f affection and friendship, it »o remiite from happiness, that it actually inr.pheB a want of th;)se principles w'n.ch can alo.'e deprive pain of i'S malig a.icy, a.d moderate the pressure of cala* mity III afflc'ion, a mind f sensibility may be ioothed by ihv? s ilicitude - F -riendsh'p, and solaced by the precepts and encouagements (if religion— may for- get mi-^oriesi incident to hunanity in tb*; prospect and contemplation of future p!''fectii»n. It mayy however, be urged, that sensibility aggra- vates sutfei ing, by giving poignancy lo the siing of disappniniment and misfortune. We estimate things acordng lo their value. For insiaiice ; the 1«)8'» of a friend will be m st severely felt by him whom sensibi- hty renders susceptible of warmer atiachmcnts Gnef for the deprivation will be prop«rtionate lo the aifjc- tion f>)r the objc^ct ; but pain, how ver accuse, is ne» ces.iarily transient: and time, thou, h it may n t re- move, will diminish the most obdurate S(»rrt)W. But the pleasures i*f sen^ibihiy are permaneui, and suibject to no dec IV ; they are dependent on no c jntinjencief, and subject to no external contMul. The nund, t )o, has an inherent disp 'sition to attach iise f to -^ bjccis which aiforJ it graificition, and to av<.id thus** which have an opposite eft -ct ; a d ihen^fore, though it nwy for a ti i,e 'eg-et the K)»s of any object which has been the source of pleasure and syo pathy ; yet as the prin- ciples exi^t in the mind whence that pleasure origina- ted, It will discover new objects for the exercise of iti teuvlerness, and new attaclimenis will be formed, as substiiutes for th se of which it has b.->en depr ved, A mind destitute of sn ibliiy can find no happiresi but in the irratficati jn « f b'Utal appetites and se sual dcai;es. Bf.t these pleas res are of veiy short duration ; and when d»sappnintment is incurred m the pursuit of them, it frequently cau es infinitely more pain than the attainment of their wishes can bestow satisfaction. i. n *^^^f» ^ti\ t\t%ai\ mmr\tV% aj. notnilit'*^ or he would never have promoted his own »!"bitionby iffTsing misery over the wo,ld_Yet h.»t«..an. inform t tha? he wept when he undet.tood there were no gate, and ...o.,,er w,„ld «"-«'>-;•. '^S'"/,;^ hU tviu:..phant domniion. The '"'* ""T, ■?,,;,, ^( der shed on hef »«»>■» *oreexst-iait.- misery than can P-'^'y ^^^"t d^''/, . mind ."f se„»,bnit, id,..ur»g - -'■- t:;;Vx: SC*: .- f 'a a vf^ItlriratL. of the J.s of Chor-!emolo.,en,.andpowe,ia.dye.C^^^^ nal Wolsey was never di tn>g«i hcd foi any P"""^ TensMi ty Ir tender *.8 of feeling. A nd savages, who« rl"u a flrociiy precludes all se„sft,ili.y, are nevevlhe- kts beet Jp^as-ions which disturb ,he.r negat.ve hanni"S and render them con ,>le,.!y wreiched To SeMs v.,-dic.ive spirit, what fatigues a„d danger, « Ue s .ffer ! and -hould his mahg an. ".tentn.ns be TZuvd, how is he agitated by rage aud d.sappomt- m" So far, therefore, i, insen^hilhy f,om confer- fro^ It en seis.bility exen.p.. ,.s possessor, and even of hose pain, to which they are both equally .bnox- r„„ ; •:, i^ devoid of all tln.e —■'»'■"-';•;:;• '^J „i„d of seusibUiiy, blun< the arrows of affl.c. .on, and mitigate the pangs of sorrow and regret. To a mind of sen: ibility, anib.tion can bring no d.s- w/olntment, because it is possessed .>f n.. char,, s i tt *i, only be promoted by the „nn and caan-n.es of "h.::2a.,d cruelty is one of those «-. wl-h -e ,n comtatible with the existence of s.-i sib.l ly Kige can k eC influence over a bosom where sei.s.b.lny pre- ■ole, ce of i.8 fury, and ca.m th. tu, nileuce of it. ^ . „ , .s it inspires a beneficent regard for the wel- fc,e .i .11 m...ki. d, so it will pieven. t''« '""•7,'^,''°- ^,j: i.;.K „,av affect the tranquility and hap- f^H ^ oihe^r But'he who i. devoid of ««.«fl>.htr THE CANADIAN VISITOR; St will have no restraint upon his passions, and no princi- ple but interest for his guide. It must, too, exempt its possessor from (hose reproachful compunctions of conscience, of which minds even of the most callous insensibility are not totally divested. Sensibility, too, is one of the principal sources of those intellectual pleasures which arise from a refined taste and a cultivated understanding. Indeed, it is in minds of this cast where sensibility generally resides ; and the same principles which inspire the love of vir- tue, of tenderness, of generosity, renders us suscepti- ble of all the pleasures derivable from the charms of po- esy, the precepts of philosophy, and all those scientific pursuits, which, as they tend to ameliorate the condi- tion of mankind, afford an agreeable satisfaction and pleasure to a mind which participates in, and delights to promote, the happiness of its species. The retrospect of past enjoyment, and the contem- plation of departed excellence, is likewise an inexhaus- tible source of pleasurable sensations in a mind of sen- sibility. As a traveller who has accomplished a jour- ney, frequently meditates on the objects which engaged his attention and occupied his thoughts on his route ; 80 a mind ot sensibility reverts with sensations of sin- gular delight to scenes of innocent amusement and fes- tivity, to characters that once attracted its esteem and enjoyed its friendship, and to the remembrance of past pleasures, which, like the sight of an agreeable vision, though ephemeral and fleeting, leave an indelible im- pression on the mind. When this sensibility is predominant in a nation, it humanizes every harsh and unnatural propensity, and molhfies all those fiercer passions which, in barbarous and uncivilized states, are the prolific source of tumult and distraction. And though it may be true that un- cultivated man is subject to fewer wants, and exempt from those luxuries which enervate the boby j yet it must be confessed, that refinement is a crucible, which. No. IV, H 82 THE CANADIAN VISITO*. though it does not divest the passions of their intoxi catinK qualities, nevertheless purifies them rrom those noxious ingredients which render savage man so san- wuinary and ferocious. Among the p<«.hed nations of antiquity, none sur- passed the Athenians in humanity as we las ■jefinemej.t • and the sensibihty which pervaded all ranks of that celebrated people, was beautifully illustrated on the „able'ocLion when it was P™P°-'' '"„\t'^ eladiators into the city. •' F.rst throw down, crted out an Athenian from the midat of the assembly, " the altar erected above a thousand years ago by our an. cestors t6 Mercy." May the same sentimen s of hu_ manky he cheriLd in the breast of every Brtton, and Se same sensibility be engraved on h.s heart with m- cxpugnable characters. Crueltj/ to Animals. As cruelty should not be shewn towards the human species, aeither should it be indulged towards the am- mal tribes. « I ever thought,' says Judge Hale, " that there is a certain degree of justice due from man to the creatures, as from man toman; and that an excessive use of the creature's labour is an injustice for Ihichhe must account. I have therefore always es. teemed it as a part of my duty, and it has alwa>^s b.en Z practice to be merciful to my beasts ; and upon TZ same account I have declined any cruelty to any of God's creatures, and as much as I could prevented h in others as a tyranny. I have abhorred those sports that consist in torturing them ; and if any noxiou creature must be destroyed, or creatures for food must be taken, it has been my practice to do it m a man- ner that may be with the least torture or cruehy ; ever remembering, that though God has given us a aominion over his creatures, yet it is under a la^^ of t:,„»;.o «.ndpnr^. and moderation, otherwise we should bJ^omi'/jT^/i/raiid not W. over God's creatures | THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 83^ and therefore those things of this nature which otheri have practised as recreations^ I have avoided as sins» Children should be early prohibited from torment- hig insects, lest it should degenerate into insensibility^ and they become inattentive to every kind of suffering but their own. We find that the supreme court of judicature at Athens thought an instance of this sort not below its cognizance, and punished a boy for put- ting out the eyes of a poor bird that had unhappily fallen into his hands. And Mr. Locke informs us of a mother who permitted her children to have birds and insects, but rewarded or punished them as they treat- ed them well or ill. The following circunnstance, it is said, occurred at Abo in Finland. A dog, who had been run over by a carriage, crawled to the door of a tanner in that town: the man's son, a boy of fifteen years of age, first stoned, and then poured a vessel of boiling wa- ter upon the miserable animal. This act of diabolical cruelty was witnessed by one of the magistrates, who thought such barbarity deserved to be publicly noti- ced. He therefore informed the other magistrates, who unanimously agreed in condemning the boy to this punishment. He was imprisoned till the follow- ing market day ; then, in the presence of all the peo- ple, he was cond icied to the place of execution by an officer of justice, who read to him his sentence — " In- human young man, because you did not assist an ani- mal v/ho implored your assistance by its cries, and who derives being from the same God who gave you life ; because you added to the torture of the agoni- zino- beast, and murdered it, the council of this city have sentenced you to wear on your breast the name you deserve, and to receive fifty stripes." ^ He then hung a black board round hia neck, with this inscrip- tion " A savage and irlmvf.;:n young man ;" and, af- t( r inflicting upon him twenty five stripes, he proceed- .J « Inhuman young m:-^ you have now felt a ve- H -46 ■■'■ S4 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. ry small degree of the pain with which you tortured a helpless animal in its hour of death. As you wish for mercy from that God who created all that live, learn humanity for the future '* He then executed the remainder of the sentence. There is no doubt but cruelties often exercised may become so customaiy, as to render the heart ""eiisibe. I was once (says a writer) passing through Moorjields with a young lady aged about nine or ten years, born and educated in Portugal, but in the Protestant faith ; and, observing a large concourse of people assembled around a pile of faggots on fire, I expressed a curio- sity to know the cause. She very composedly an- swered, " I suppose that it is nothing more than that they are going to burn a Jew:' Fortunately it was no other than roasting an ox upon some joyful occasion. What rendered this singularity the more strikuig, were the natural mildness and compassion of the young per- sun's disposition. Discontent* « The discontented man," says Dr. Stennett, «< Is ever restless and uneasy, dicsatisfied with his station in life, his connections, and almost evety circumstance that happens to him. He is continually peevish and fretful, impatient of every injury he receives, and un- duly impressed with every disappointment he s-uffers. He considers most other persons as happier than him- self, and enjoys hardly any of the ble>sn.gs of Provi- dence with a calm and grateful nnnd. He forms to himself a thousand distressing tears concerning futurity, and makes his present condition unhappy, by ai.ticipa- ting the misery he may endure years to come.'* If we examine the records of history, recollect what has happened within the circle of our own experience ; consider with attention what has been the conduct of almost all the greatly unfortunate, either in private or public hfe, whom we may h^^ either read cr, hcatu THE CANADFAN VISITOR. S5 of, or remember ; and we shall find that the misfor- lunes of by far the greater part of them have arisen from their not knowing when they were well, when it was proper for them to sit still, and to be contented. The inscription upon the tombstone of the man who had endeavoured to mend a tolerable constitution by taking physic, " / was well ; I wished to be better : here I am,^^ may generally be applied with great just- ness to the distress of disappointed avarice and ambition. ** Men," says an elegant author, " are too often in- genious in making themselves miserable by aggravating to their own fancy, beyond bounds, all the evils which they endure. They compare themselves with none but those whom they imagine to be more happy ; and com- plain that upon them alone has fallen the whole load of human sorrows. * I will restore your daughter a- giin to life,' said an Eastern sage to a prince who gri- ved immoderately for the loss of a beloved child, * pro- vided you are able to engrave on her tomb the names of three persons who have never mourned.' The Prince made enquiry after such persons, but found the enqui* ry vain, and was silent." Reflections on Angen Among the numerous faiUngs which jfl'feud human nattire, there is no one more ridkii|3us and disa- greeable than the silly effusions of an^r in which some men habitually indulge. Natuially of a choleric tem- per, they cherish their passions till they become the plague of their families, the terror of those who are so uiifortunate as to be under their controul, the con- tempt of friends and acquaintances, and in fine, a curse to themselves. The slightest circumstance is suffici- ent to heat them to the highest degree. They seem to think the whole world was made to submit to any inconvenience it may suit their interest or caprice to iiiilict. To sh.Qw the follv and imDroDrietv of such a li 3 gg THE CASAD'«N VISITOR. aisporition, it ™m be sufficient to 3ay-it is unnncs- lary, JhhonorabU, and fernmoau &,e of the most common, and perhaps he only plausible argument by w*'-";.' -„,t. ?' tfy' t e Id! thread-bare plea of «««„> ^ , ' ^..L ud our vocates of warm tempers, "we were '"'"^'^^l^^l » spirits, we should have nothing done W ""^J^'"^^^ .. tirs, we should enjoy no esteem from the wo Id, nor " be able to pass through l.fe with advantage. B.U i, not this an'^vil created by the very temper n ,s now 1 , ^ ,„ BuoDOVt ' Habit may make that appa- wallv so If an individual is so irritabie that lie is ne «r in earnest without being passionate, no one wiU Tav any a tention to him unless the marks of passion be Srlse«. He has made this temper the evidence o e.r- res ness, nay of sincerity, and no one who knows him tbituan y, give sufficient proofs of earnestness and sincerity, without warmth of temper. Bv a very singular combination ot qualities in the UJ a very s ,„ f,pnuentlT happens that men ot human mind, it not ui trequenriy "HI' Hence .»>. mnst violent tempers are the most fickle. nence • ^LrW cause of the supposed necessity of an- " Th hiX of rage is substituted for the calm S:;eveT^^g Xnce of fortitude and firmness. Should pel severing n : , be proportionate to the dif- fitry'ot th t'al ?hr have ^c 'perform ; or should f, S fuel to feed its flame in their progress, they per- 'ivee in he undertaking, but if no,, as soon as the r'" TTttVetrnfCi; chat?etanr:rt ^S«ly-To hei!^"::: sdemn protestations, they !T,W,irLard till the demon of rage swell their coun- Sanc7,\vh1n concludi„g,,i.ey mean w.,at t,.y ^^^^^^^^^ their dictates are obeyed, or lUeir DU&ine:,* THE CANADIAN VlSfFOR, 87 If the end of anger is to make people respect our richu, servants obey our commands, children hsten la to our precepts, it will be far more effectually answer- ed by firmness and decision, than by the utmcxst parox- isms of rage. In every instance let our declatationa or commands be consistent with sober reason and truth j and when once made known, let them be invariably persisted in, unless some better cause than mere cap- rice can be assigned for the change. But it is as dishonorable as it is unnecessary, bucti individuals indulge their passions to show their mipor- tance and gain respect. But are they respected by those who know ihem ? Let the general sentiment ot mankind bear testimony. The proportion of esteem, and the degree of importance which any person Has, are in exact correspondence to his usefulness in society, but if his irruable temper constantly wound the teel- incs of his friends and break in on the peace oi socie- ty, is it surprising if he loses their esteem and smks in his importance. Very irritable persor s, hke bees in a garden, may be suffered to hold a place m society, and in some measure contribute to its welfare ; but tew vi- sitors will choose to approach too near, not even to ad- mire their excel'ence and extol their ingenuity, lest by »ome trifling inadvertence they give offence, and teel the smart of their sting. A nnld and amiable temper without effort secures the tribute of esteem and ijs- pect ; and the world, capricious as it may be, in the dis- tribution of its favors, has shown its disapprobation ot the snarling cur, by voluntarily yieldi.^g the palm ot honor to gentleness and sweetness of disposition. These cursory remarks may be concluded by obser- Tinjr, that an angry disposition is perntcwvs. A man in a fit of anger resembles a ship without a rudder in the midst of wind and storm, left to the mercy of the contending elements. He has lost the governmen of himself. Such a combination of irritating circutr^stan- ces mav take place, and such transports of rage be ex. «ittd in the passionate temper, as may, lu some i«iiu $91 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. moment, plunge a dagger in the heart of a friend Mar ny who have comnnitted crimea for which life has been forfeited to justice, have perpetrated the horrid act under the impetuous impulse of iingoverned passion. * But admitting such a catastrophe should never befal the passionate man, yet, such a temper, must be the souce of misery to himstlf He is the prey of every incident and of every individual. It is in the power of his meanest domestic to rob him of his peace and com- posure whenever he pleases. Anger, especially when in excess, is a most painful sensation, and the reflec- tions which commonly succeed it, are not less diagree- able. After the rude storm of ungoverned rage, what shipwrecks of truth, of propriety, of friendship, and of happiness, stare a man m the face, and, in order to repair the evil, how frequently succeeds the mortify- ing concession — the humiliating acknowledgment — " I was in a passion." It will, perhaps, be enquired, if anger is never to be excited — yes, and there are cases in which its exercise is a virtue. But it should always be under the domi- nion of reason, and must not transport us beyond the government of ourselves, even where justice requires its most extensive exertion. — Should I behold a poor help- less widow or orphan, the subject of wanton oppres- sion, insult and cruelty, and not feel my displeasure rise to a high degree, I should be criminal indeed. Tut it must not lead me to strike the tyrant, and abuse him with mdecurous or profane language. Though the cause were just, I should be guilty — If my servant boy in sweeping my library, should, through carelessness or misfortune, throw down my ink and spoil my elegant ' edition of the Britibh Poets, I might justly be angry, but not in raging madness. The evil is considerable, but must not transport me beyond bounds. Just and reasonable arger would show itself in warm expostula- tion, not in abuse and harsh language ; in insisting calm- Iv nn fiinit-o r-nntinn. nnt in thp inerclless furv of a de« inon, threatening to beat out his braias. ALPHA. T«E CANADIAN VISITOR. 89 Remahahle instance of extra&jdinar^ Mental Powers, Jedediah Buxton, was born at Elmeton, a village in Derbyshire, about 1704 ; but though hia father wa» a Schoolmaster, Jedediah could neither read nor write. Notwithstanding this, he attained a power of c .cnla- tion almost incredible. Even mixed company, conver- sation, and confused noises could not distract his mind when intent on a problem. A person once proposed to him this question : i i a body the three sules ot which are 23,145,789 yards, 5,642,732 yards, and 54,965 yards, how many cubic eighths of an inch ? In about five hours Jedediah accurately solved this intri- cate problem, though in the midst of business, and surrounded by more than a hundred labourers. He would measure a piece of land by walking over it, as exactly as another could do with a chain. In 1754, he walked to London to see the royal family, but re- turned disappointed. Whilst in town, he was mtro- duced to the Royal Society ; he was also taken to Drury.Lane, where, instead of minding the play, or gazing with wonder, he employed himself in counting The words uttered by Mr. Garrick. He hved to lie above 70, and had several children. POETRY. The Field of Toulouse.-— A Sketch. « Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the wayv for the sword of the enemy ; fear is on every side." TTie Prophet Jeremiah* Kay, old man, go not to the field, Unless thy heart's to pity steel'd ; I would not view that deadly dance ,;• For all the treasures once in France. But now I ventured out to see ' If :.nv livinc- there mitrht be ; IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■^ 1^ mil 2 2 :ii 1^ 12.0 1.8 U IIIIII.6 V] - >^ 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ») THE CANADIAN VISITORv I puied along^all lilent ; dead { They retted on their grasiy bod. 1 but it was a fearful sight, Tb see that field all in the lonely night ; Just one wild wandering glance I threw, And closed my eyes to shun the view. A murm'ring sound stole on my ear. It seem'd the sigh of some one near ; I caird, but no reply was given ; A soul had wing'd its flight to heaven { Again, again, a low ftrange sound ! 'Twas the blast of night as it swept the ground,. Lifting the plumes all bloody and low That once wav'd bright on the warrior's brow. Then Julian came, and we went on,. In vain — there was no living one ; • But many an English mother's care, • And many a lady's love lay there. There was one spot, where something bright, Was glitt'ring in the pale moon-liglit : Oh ! bless'd virgin who might be Unmov'd, that mournful sight to see ! 'Twas a warrior-youth wliose golden hair All lightly wav'd on tiie dewy air, And the moon-beam resting on his face, Gave it a sad, unearthly grace. A broken sword beside him lay : It fail'd him pn that desperate day : Slumbiiring he seem'd, but he drew no breath, His sleep was the heavy sleep of death. Nay, go not, go not, to the field, Unless they heart's to nature steel'd ; For all the treasures once in France, I would not view that deadly dance ! ON THE APPROACH OF SLEEP. Nature now begiiis to nod. And Sleep, the leaden-scepter'd God, O'er my drowsy eye-balls throws The pleasing poppies of repose. Ifi vain their lids I try to prop, •Vl^f thougitts iutu Cuufusion drop ; THE CANADIAN VISITOR. m And black Forgetfulness invades My intellects, with all her shades : Objects now grow dull and dfm ; Shadowy forms before vae skim ; And all thinigs seem alike to be Clad in Night's dark liverv. I long to lay my wearied head Pillow'd in a peaceful bed ; To bid adieu to worldly care, And bury all life's bus'ness there. Answers to Arenarius's Questions in No. 3. QUESTION 1. The quotient, which, subtracted from 11, left no -^ thing must have been 1 1 . Before this number was divided by |, it must have been 1 1 times | or y , and before this was multiplied by \ of t, it must have been y divided by \ of**, or y multiplied by I of 2, or '^«>, equal to 89|. Q. 2 The square root of the remainder being 1, the remainder itself ^s 1, and before 4 was subtracted, the quotient must have been 5. Now 5 multiplied by J and divided |, is 5 times J, or y, equal to 4|, the number required. Q. 3. An English foot being to a French one, as 1000 to 1068 ; therefore, lOOC ; 1068 : : 1 : 1 ^|»^ the number of English feet contained in a French one. Hence, 4S|| X 4-g|| X .7854 = .8958460896 = the area of a circle 1 French foot, or 1 t||^ of an English one in diameter, which subtracted from J, leaves .104154 square feet, or 14 j!^^ square inches. MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED TSf NEXT No, 1. What is each side of the Rhombus of which the area is 20) and the perpendicular breadth 3f ? 9^^ THE CANAWAN VISITOR^ 2. If a ton of oil, when poured out on the surface of a river or the sea, diffuse itself over a square mile, what is the thickness of the stratum, supposing it uniform ? Arenarius. S. Others state that a quarter of an ounce of oil will diffuse itself over an acre of water, required the thick- ness of the stratum in that case, supposing water to be a twentieth part heavier than the same bulk of oil, and supposing an ounce of water to measure .^'o^th of a cubac foot ? Arenarius. 4. The length of a degree in the latitude of Que- bec, being nearly 47 English miles, required the hour- ly motion of Quebec, in consequence of the earth's diurnal rotation on its axis ? 5. On the same supposition, required the rate of motion of Quebec per second ? 6. What proportion does that motion bear to the greatest velocity of a cannon ball, supposing the lat- ter to be 2000 feet per second ? 7. How many nails of the same size, but without heads, can be made out of a piece of Iron of the same length with the nails, and its other dimensions equal to those of the thickest end of one of the nails ; suppo- sing no part of the metal to be lost in the operation ? 8. In what proportion is the diameter of a quarter dollar to that of a dollar, supposing the thickness to be one half ? 9. What is the proportion of the thickness of thete two coins, supposing their diameters to be as 5 to 8 ? J. »l [ I THB CANADIAN VISITOR. SEPTEMBER, 1815. Tt ** Now lofteii'd suns a mellow lustre shed. ** The la^en orchards glow with tempting red j * " On hazel boughs the clusters hang embrown'd •♦ And with the sportman's war the new-shorn fields resounA*^ ^Berries and pulpous fruits of various kinds, •• The promise of the blooming spring, now yield * Their rich and wholesome juices ; meant 4'allay ** The ferment of the bilious blood." OEP'i'EMBER is the ninth month of the year, rec- *^ koned from January, and the seventh from March, whence its name, viz ; from SeAtimus, seventh. The Roman senate would have given this montii the name of Tiberius, but that Emperor opposed it ; the Emperor Domitian gave it his own name Germa- nicos ; the senate under Antoninus Pius gave it that of AtUonintu ; Commodus gave it his surname Hercw leiU9 and the Emperor Tacitus his own name Tackm^ But these appellations are all gone into disuse. This is, m general, a very pleasant month, the 4i»- tmguishing softness and serenity of Autumn rrevailing through great part of it ; accordingly Peacham says, Septensber is drawn with a merry and cheerful counte- nance, in a purple robe. Remarkable EvenU which occurred in this Month, 1. — 1159. Died Pope Adrian IV. the only En- glishman that ever obtained the tiara, and whose ar- togance was such that he obliged Frederick I. to pros- trate himself before him, kiss his foot, hold his stirrup, and lead the white palfrey on which he rode. His name was Nicholas Brekespeare, a native of Abbots- 9S THX CANADIAN VISITOR. Langley, a village near St Alban's, Herts* He wis dieoted to the popedom in 1 154*. 1 — 1715. Death OF Louis. Louis the XIV. King of France, died in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and the seventy-third year of his reign, and was succeeded by his grand>son, Louis XV. This e- vent took place in the palace of Versailles, which he himself had built. S.-~]191. Richard I. obtained a signal victory over Saladin, in the Holy Land. The King shortly after embarked for England j but was unfortunately ship-wrecked near Aquileia, in the north part of the gulph of Venice, and, taking the road to Vienna, was seized by the Duke of Austria, who sent him prisoner to the Eniperor. 6.— 1769. A very beautiful Comet, moving with great swiftness, was seen in London ; its tail stretch- ed across the heavens, like an immense luminous arch, 36 milhons of miles in length, and presented an incon* ceivably magnificent spectacle. 7. — 1812. Was fought the battle of Mojaisk or Borodino, in which the Russians are said to have lost 4Q,000 men, and the French probably not fevi'er. This bloody and disastrous contest, opened the gates of Moscow to the conquerors. 9. — ISH. An American flotilla was destroyed on Lake Huron, by a small party of British and Indians under Lt. Colonel M*Dowal. 10.— 1813. The British naval armament on Lake Erie, was taken by the Americans, after a gallant re- sistance by Captain Barclay. 1 1.— 1 8 1 4. The Britisli flotilla on Lake Champlain, destroyed by the Americans, in sight of a large En- glish Army. ll--— 1812. The French entered Moscow, when thiii beautiful, superb, and populous city was burnt to tlie ground. But the authors of this awful catastrophe, were doomed soon to experience not less disasters than they had infiicted, and to perish fur want of shelter from THE CANADIAN TISITCH. 91 the cold in the cor.ntry which they had juat overrun. 17. — 1814. The Americans made a iformidable sor- tie from Fort Erie, but were repulsed with great slaughter by the handful of British troops who besieg- ed them, under the command of Lieut. General, no\r SiH Gordon Drummond. 18 — 1709. Dr. Samuel Johnson, the " Great « Moralist," was born at Litchfield, in Staffo^hire, which was also the natal place of Rowley and AflRiole. Dr. Johnson died December 13, 1784. A statue to the memory of this illustrious '« Leviathan of Litera- *• ture" has been erected in St. Paul's Cathedral. His principal works are, the Ramblers, Lives of the En- glish Poets, and an English Diciionary, J a— 1356. Edward the Black Pkinc« defeated the French at Poitiers, uow in the Department of Vi- enne, France. The Standard of France was over- thrown, many of her most distinguislied nobility slain, and the King (John), with his youngfst son, forced to surrender themselves prisoners. The Prince treat- ed bis royal captives with eminent courtesy. r?# — *^*^ ®' ^' ^^* ^""^S^^ ''^^ memorable battle of Mycale, between the Greeks and Persians ; being the identical day on which Mardonitis was defeated and slain at Platea. The Persians consisted of about 100,000 men, who had just returned from an unsuc- cessful expediiion of Xerxes in Greece. They were completely defeated, some thousands of them slaugh- tered, their camp burnt, and tlie Greeks tritimphantlj embarked their troops and sailed back to Samos with an immense booty. Mycale is a promontory of Asia, opposite to the Island of Samos in the Archipelago. 22. — 1761, Gkorge IIL and his Queen were crowned in the Abbey Church of Wesi minster. 26.— Cyprianus, a principal father of the Christian Church, was born at Carthage, in Africa, at the lat- ter end of the second or beghining of the third centu- ry. We know nothing more of his parents than that 12 " 96 TUX CANADIAN VI&ITOR. they were heathens ; and he himself contimned luch till the last twelve yearu of bis life. He applied him- self early to the study of oratory, and taught rhetoric io his native city with the highest applause. His coo* version is fixed to the year ^46 ; and it happened at Carthage, where, as St. .Terom observes, he had cfien co^ployed his el<»quence in defence of Pagai»i«m. He was ixiade Presbyter in 247, and Bishop of Carthagt I made in SJ^ and terminated his excellent life in 25H, by martyrdom, in the persecution of Valerian and G.allitfc nus. There is a tine eilition of his works in English) vith notes, by Nathaniel Marshall- 29. — 1560. Died, at Stockholm, in the 70th ycwr of his age, GciXAVus Vasa, King of Sweden, the dehverer cf his country from the Danish yoke. He left the nation in a condition to strike her enemies with terror, smd inspire her allies with respect* His bod]p; was carried to Upsal, where he had been crowned* and which was ttie centre of his conquests, and the place of his frequent residence : there his funeral was solcm* nized with pubhc orations and panegyrics } with the ieara of all his subjects ; and with the grateful remenw brance of his great and glorious actions. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE, Since our last notice on this subject, events truly most momentous and exhilarating have been announ- ced. The philanthropist, the lover of peace, the friend of order and of justice, have been gratified in the highest degree by tne total failure of the last at- tempt to restore Imperial Despotism in l^rance. The events connected with this salutary revolution have fol- lowed each other in so very rapid succession, that we have room to present our readers with only a very has- ty sketch of them. On the 16th June, the sangukiary contest, which, finally, threw the Despot from his seat, commenced THE CANADIAN VISITOR. m by a furioua onset which he made upon the Prussian army under Blucher, stationed near Fleurus, and which n "^u'^^^l" «"" ^''^ ^"^ very considerable loss. Un the 18th, Bonaparte commenced a general attack ou the British army occupying some heights at Water- 00, and repeated his attacks with great fury and impe. S ^/k"""I '^' ^^.°^" °^^^^ ^^^ ^"^ particularly directed his efForts against the centre of his antagonists, i hese attacks, though made with the most darlg im- petuosity, and effecting indescribable havock and car- nage, some entire British regiments having been anni- hilated, were met with most determined obttinacy, and unexampled resolution. Towards evening, when every attempt to break the British centre had fumed out un- JZl^^l"?"* Bulow with a large division of Prussiaa n^oops, had turned the nght wing of the French, the Duke of Wellington ordered a general attack to be made along the whole line, which was executed, after all the sufferings of the troops, with such enthusiasm and impetuosity, that the rout of the French army instantly became general aed complete. This victory was purchased at an enormous price of blood , but It was decisive. The Usurper with some remnants of his broken force, retreated to Paris : and. before the end of the month, found it necessary to ab! dicatethe throne which he had at first raised on the fragments of his country's freedom, and from which lie bad once extended the iron rod of oppression over many distant nations. Despotisnri is the greatest possible enemy to civili- zation, to science, to virtue, and to human happiness, ilut a Despotism founded on obvious injustice, is the most pernicious of all examples, as it holds out a per- petual encouragement and invitation to a repetition of the like crimes and enormities. Hie fall of this Des- potism, 18, therefore, most consolatory ; and it is cer- tainly one of. the most strongly marked lessons which i'rovidence has ever offered to mankind of the imperi- 13 I 9|t THE CAWAWAN VISITO*. owe necessity under which they ly, of regulating their conduct by justice. After his abdication, Bonaparte retired to the coast, cmphalicaliy observing that hchsidjinishedhnpoliticdl life. After several unsuccessful attempts to evade the vigilance of the cruisers in the Bay of Biscay, he re- solved to suri-ender himself to the British Government, and fi«illy went on board the Bellerophonon the 15th of July. Arriving on the English coast, a few day» after, he was not permitted to land, or to have any communication with the shore, and on the 29th, re- ceived his destination, which was to be separated from his suite, to be carried to the Iskmd of St. Helefta, and there to remain a prisoner of war during his life. In the mean time the Allied Armies entered France on all sides, Louis the XVT II re-ascended the throne of his ancestors, the provinces, the garrisons, and the diffe- rent divisions of the French army, successively hoisted the white flag, and, finally, all resistance ceased, and must, in fact, be at an end. Accounts from London of the 3d of Aug. state that a Treaty of Peace had been ttgned between France and the Allies. The Island of Ceylon, was, finally, subdued by a British force under the commsnd of Lieutv Gen. Sir R. BaowNRiGO, in the month of February last. The English Government appears to have adopted the wise and politic resolution of encouraging the re- dundant population of the British Islands to remove to Canada, and to cultivate and settle some of the desert tracts which are here very extensive and very suscep- tible of cultivation. This measure will retain to the Empire numbers that would otherwise emigrate to fo* reign States, and people the wilderness with a loyal and industrious race, whose attachment} will thus be secured by the attention which they will feel to have been paid to their domestic comfort. Some restless characters in the United-States, in their unbounded ardour for military distiiiction> appear THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 9i to have meditated an attack on the .neighbouring do- minions of Spain in a time of profound peace. The The design appears to have been of some magnitude, and to have met with considerable support, since an official Proclamation of the President was required to put it down. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE, During the present month, the inhabitants of Que- bec have had to witness and deplore one of the most awful calamities by fire with which it has been visited for many years, in the destruction of a number of va- hiable buiMings at Pres-de-Ville, in the immediate neighbourhood of the City. Several persons have, in consequence, suffered great loss. One worthy gen- tleman in particular, in an advanced period of hfe, the whole of which he has passed in singular regularity and benevolence, saw, in a few hours, the fruits of many year's application perish, and the sources of future com- fort as well as beneficence dried up. Another indivi- dual had hie estate laid out in an importation of book?, consumed. Mr. Racey's extensive Brewery has been destroyed* Sevet-al more obscure individuals have been reduced to penury. The public Stores destroyed were very valuable, but no authenticated statement has been publii^hed. The infant settlement of Drummondville is in a ve- ry flourishing state, considering the short time it has yet been in being, and promises to be a lasting monument to the honour of the present illustrious Administrator in Chief, whose name it bears, and who has directed its infant establishment. We have great pleasure in noticing the attention which appears to be directed to the improvement of mads and other means of communication throughout the Province. Nothing contributes more to enrich a country, than the opening of good roads, which at once enhances the value of land, and encourages the culti- THE CANADIAN VI.SITOa. vation of It, increases the supply of the market by fa- cilitating the transpoit of commodities, and dimiimhea the price of labour by enabling fewer hands to circu- late produce Avider. If the man who makes a blade of graHS grow where none grew before, deserves more gratitude than he who conquers a kingdom ; what ho- nour does not he merit, who provides the means of con- veying to the market, all the grasses of the wilderness which formerly shed their nourishment as well as their Ycrdurp and fragrance on the desert air P Some time ago, Monseigneur, the Catholic Bishop of Quebec, witli a liberality which does honor to the age and country in which he lives, and to both of which he is an ornament, reduced all the parochial fetes throughout his ditjcese to one, and fixed that day on a Sunday. The importance of this regulation will be understood, when it is recollected that formerly, in ma- ity cases, the inhabitants of one parish observed the fetes of all the surrounding parishes, and too frequent- ly devoted them to the purposes of dissipation. Now, all these fetes come on one day, and that being Sun- day, has a better chance of being devoted, according to its ecclesiastical destination, to the purposes of de- votion. By the liberal conduct of this enlightened Prelate, all the country has gained one day, and the idle and dissolute have lost several days of inexcusable dissipation. ON EDUCATION. (Continued from our last,) Immediately on being admitted into the third class, the children enter upon a practice, peculiar, I believe, to the Enmore school, and a few other schools which have lately adopted the same plan of instruction: it is that of writing- upon their slates, at the dictation of their teacher, all the new or more difficult words of every lesson, previously to their being called out to read it } and also writing, on returning to their desk, all the TAX CANADIAN VIBITOK. 100 words, dict3ite08t ration«^l, the e«si- C9t, and the shortest mcthpd, in which the sounds of the letters can be acquired ; and if ni\y experience haa not been very erroneous, it will be found ^a amusing as useful. It is to be observed, that along with these instructions directed to the ear, the eye is not to be neglected. On the contrary, this sense also Wight to be daily practised. As soon as your pupil is suffici- ently familiarised with the sound and pronunciation erf any set of combination, you must put into his hands the same set in print, or one as near it as possible ; and you will have the pleasure of perceiving, that as soon as he has named the letters in a printed combination, he mil recognise their power, and be able to pronounce them. . f • The advantages of this process, must be tbvious to ail persons of discernment and reflection. But, as, in this carnal and profit -calculating generation, few as there are \.\At can read, there are still fewer who re- fleet, or who set much value upon method and simpli- city, it may be necessary on their account to be a lit- tle more particular on this poirt. In the usual way, whenever a child has mastered tht twenty-si? letters of the Alphabet he is ushered into the short spelling lessons, or what the Anglo-Ameri- cans term their A, BEE, ABS. Here he is obli- ged to pore most minutely upon a number of little black figures with which the page is covered, and eve- ry one of which he must discriminate and give a name to. Now this operation is of itself sufficiently trou- blesome to him, and, in fact, he cannot, at present, continue it for any length of time without becoming disgusted. Accordingly, in the way I describe, this is all the trouble, he, at present, encounters. For, upon naming two or three letters, he immediately recogni- ses a sound with which he is familiar, he is delighted to find an old ftiend sooner than he expected, and goes on with pleasure to another part of the entertainment. But, in the usual way, besides the irksome trouble oi THH CANADIAN VISITOR. 104 minute inspection, to which he is little accustomed, he has got a task to perform to which he is far less habi- tuated than to the former, having, in fact, never prac- tised It at all before. This is no less than learning the power of the letters, which he might have learned long ago with much pleasure and without distraction, but which he must acquire at this most unseasonable period when he has several other painful operations to undergo. Itwasintended,inthi8place, togivehintsonvaiioussub- jects connected with elementary instruction, but the pre- sent article having been drawn cut to an unexpected li>gth,theremaininghint8,are,forthepresent,postponed. ON BENEVOLENCE, AS A RULING PRINCIPLE. The great and primary object of the more numeroun class ot mankind in all states of society, is to provide the necessaries, and some times, perhaps, the convenien- cies of life. To procure immediate subsistence, and to accumulate something for future comfort and support, are indispcnsible objects of attention to every reasonable being, in the pursuit of which, however, he ought to be constantly guided by religion and moral obhgation. Next to the desire of subsistence, but of the same nature, is the desire of riches, l^his supposes the de- sire of subsistence to be entirely gratified, and the sub- ject continues the accumulation of wealih on account of the honours and distinction with which it is usually attended. If he continues it from the mere pleasure of hoarding and possessing, without regard to the means by which he obtains it, he is a miser. The le- gitimate desire of riches, is the great source of indus- try, and the chief improver of the comforts and conve- uiencies of human life. A higher principle, but less generally felt than the desire of riches, is that of distinction and eminence among mankind. To produce this principle, requires a greater expansion of ideas, and a certain nobleness of mind superior to that which is inhabited by the desires No. V. K 105 THE CANADIAJT VISITOR. of subsistence or of riches. To gratify this principle, various paths are followed. To acquire this distinc- tion, riches are accumulated, and industry exerts all her eagerness : Knowledge is pursued, and many solitary hours devoted to the stores of ancient or modern lite- rature ; eminence in some profession is eagerly sought with steady and ambitious aim ; or the high pinnacle of power is climbed with dangerous and deceitful steps. In far the greater part of those who act from this prin- ciple, it is limited to distinction among contemporaries, and seeks nothing farther than the applause or at least respect of those by whom the individual is surrounded. In a few, rises the desire of Fame, which regards not vicinity only, but mankind in general ; which aims at the admiration not of contemporaries only, but of fu- ture generations. It is enjoyed by the still rarer few who rise to the highest pitch of eminence in some of the various pursuits in which the race one engaged. It has been observed that, among the means of ac- quiring distinction, one is the acquisition of knowledge Knowledge, however, is desirable on its account, and possesses charms which are altogether distinct from the convenience, the distinction, or even the fame, which it is usually employed as a means of acquiring. These plea&ures are partly enjoyed by those who pursue know- ledge for the indirect advantages of livelihood or fame which it may yield. But their true enjoyment is reser- ved for the precious few who cultivate it fcr its own sake, who pursue in silence and retirement the impetus of an ardent curiosity, and who are more delighted with discovering the secrets of nature or seeing the truth of things, than with receiving the adulation of the world, or being wafted on the breath of fame. The number of persons thoroughly penetrated by this principle, and chiefly actuated by it, has, generally, been small. But those who were thus actuated, have usually been carri- ed forward in their discoveries by an impulse which raised them far above those who had pursued the same object for the sake of its indirect advantages. THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 106 But the highest, the most pure, the most godlikft prin- ciple which can actuate the human breast, is, benevo- lence. As this is the purest, so it is the happiest ; for the glow of conscious philanthropy is the happiest of all sensations : An hour of disinterested luxury in doing good, is worth a whole eternity of selfish gratifications. The number of persons in whom benevolence was the uppermost or ruling principle has never been great, probably less than that of those actuated by any of the other principles that have been mentioned. Yet all mankind are possessed of some degree of this principle, as thev are of curiosity and of the desire of distinction and ot riches. They have, at least, as much of the be- nevolent principle as leads them to bestow their ua- qualified and highest prtiise upon the rare spirits that now and then make their appearance under its predo- minant influence. EXAMPLES OF BENEVOLENCE^ Owe of the earliest, as well as one of the most me- morable instances of benevolence, was Socrates. And if we cousiOcr the al;r.ost uurMiAi pvrriiy of hi;* motives, the unremitted perseverance of his efforts, and the cou- rage, fortitude, and eloquence which he exerted in the cause 5 it is not too much to assert, that his example was never excelled by any instance of philanthropy merely human. When, to this illustrious example, we have added that of Confucius, we have probably ex- hausted the instances of this sort, which the Fagen world can produce. Though benevolence, as a ruling principle, may na- turally be rare ; yet with the assistance of the Chris* tian religion operating strongly on its side, and prompt- ing to the same sentiments and the same conduct, it has become more widely diffused than formerly. In- stead of appearincr once in the lapse of several centu.. rics, it is probab! ., hat few ages have passed since the introduction of Christianity without witnessing more than one example of this divine virtue^ K 3 # 107 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. During the first ages of that religion, its principles' seemed to be yet {\e>h and deeply impressed on the minds of men, and gave great efficacy to the natural sentiment of humanity. 'I'he manners which prevailed during the ages of Chivalry, with all their disadvanta- ges, had yet a strong tincture of benevolence, and pro- duced several bright examples of its disinterested ope- ration. In later ages, since the revival of learning, reasoning and intellect have displayed the importance, extended the objects, and enforced the motives of be- nevolence. Hence, the number of persons, who, if not actuated by this as a ruling prificiple, are, at least, greatly directed by it, has become so considerable, that the mere direction and regulation of this affection is an object of no light importance with the present geneia- tion of moralists. Some of the more remarkable instances, have been Fa- biola, Augustin, Las Casas, Howard, Sharpe, and Cap- tain Cook, who seems to have exemplified the rare union of benevolence with the disinterested love of knowledge. That any entire nation should ever act frwn bene- volence as a ruling principle is impossible, nor desirable were it possible, because it would require the extinc- tion of those motives to action upon which the subsis- tence of the greater part of the race depends. But» without becoming the ruling principle, this affection may very extensively influence the conduct of individu- als and of societies. And there is no possible ho- nour, thnt any society or nation can attain, which reflects so much lustre upon it, as to be distinguished for humanity and benevolence. No nation ever exhibited so distinguished an exam- ple of benevolence as the British nation in regard to the Slave Trade. The sentiments of the nation in relation to this subject, burst forth in one united blaze too ar- dent to be repressed, and too conspicuous to be mista- ken. It is in vain that the enemies of Great Britain, internal and external, have attempted to misrepresent and nullify this glorious feature in the character of her inhabitants. Many of her detractors, either envious THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 108 of her glory thus moBt justly acquired, or conoious of their own selfish misanthropical ideas, have endeavour- cd to assure us that all this xvas no more than an effer- vescence of fanaticism. Fanaticism it might be, and no doubt, was, in many, or at least connected Aviih fa- natical principles. But the greater part, the most res. pectable part of the abolitionists, and those who labo- red with most ardour and success in the cause, and who still follow up the struggle, are men in whose constitution, fanaticism and superstition have no place. 1 hey acted, and still act, from views ot an enlitrht- cned policy, from an extended regard to justice, and thenatiiral, unalienable, and sacred rights of man ; rights from which he cannot, without gro<>s injustice, be shut out, whether he wanders over the sandy de- serts of Africa, or reposes on velvet cushions in the ralaces of London or of Paris. DESCRIPTION Of the banks of the St, Lawrence, from Mon- treal to Lake St, Peter, as they appear to a person saiHno down the River. The Island of Montreal is forn-.ed at the lunction of the Rivers Ottawa and St. Lawrence, and 13 about J^ miles in length by 12 at its greatest breadth. The country, in general, is perfectly level : but towards the centre of the Island, in a considerable eminence, still covered whh wood, which, having formerly been the residence of an Indian Piince, gave to the first set- tlement m this country, the name which it still letains, Montreal, or the royal n)0u:)tain. On leaving tlie har- bour, and sailing along the Island towards iis er,stern extremity, the bank continues with every little varia- tion, to be of no greater height than from 10 to 15 teet, and is composed merely of common earth or snnd. It is, however, covered with a suificient liumber of I... . ji.s.s , m.d iv.w viauges at l^oiig nnnt iii;d T *;'"\^^.^ '^"^b^^'» ''^'^-e to divesify the 5,cene. Th.» Island of St. Helea, opposite to the City of MontieaJ, K 3 10$ THE CANADIAN ViSlTOft. presents, for several leagues below, a beautiful and interesting appearance, aa its green banks rise in a gra- dual slope from the River, and its centre is covered with lohy maple. The breadth of the River is pro- bably from 2 to 4. miles ; but a range of Islands oppo- site to Long Point, run along the right bank, gives it an apparent breadth considerably leas than the real. Towards the eastern extremity of the Island, is ano- ther cluster of Islets, which generally approach nearer the left bank, and stretch toward the continent on the northern shore. They are partly covered with pasture grounds and fields of corns, and others still remain un- der their ancient venerable woods- At this place and for many leagues farther down, the bank is exceeding- ly little elevated above the surface of the river. The herbage appears to mingle itself with the water. And at half a league's distance from the shore, you would aay that the forests rose out of the bed of the river. The country on all sides presents the same uniform le- Yel surface. With one exception, the eye cannot, in its utmost range, discover the slightest trace of a hrfl. 1 he two solitary and detached summits of Chainbly, alone present themselves, at the distance of about 20 miles, and they merely serve to remind ths spectator, that na- ture, has not, even in this part of her works, entirely forgotten the formation of mountains. The large and gentle stream winds through the country in a manner which gives precisely the appearance of an immense ca- nal. It seems designed rather to water and moisten the surrounding lands, than to carry off the superfluous moisture. , _ The parishes of St. Sulpice, La Valtne, and La- novaie, are extended along the northern shore. St, Michel, Belceil, and St. Ours, occupy the southern, and another range of low sandy Islands ly along the right bank. The woods here, are generally, cut down, but many stunted trunks are sttll seen standing, and tlie marke of fire are frequently discovered. When vou arrive at Berthier, a forest of tall trers, of which JiL- roots a'e surrounded with beautiful herbage, is be- THE CANADIAN VISITOR. no held on the left bank ; on the right are low and cloBe woods ; and before you, are the innumerable Islands which obstruct the entrance and announce the proxi- mity of Lake St. Peter. Among these, numerous outlets of water present themselves, so that it is im- possible not to wonder which of them the pilot will employ, in order to follow the principal channel of the river. A spacious bay, by degrees opens to the right and leaving all the Islands hitherto met with, on the left, brings into view the populous and cultivated pa- rish of William Henry. Heie the waters of Lake Champlain pour themselves into the St. Lawrence by a river which, according to the idle caprice of custom, appears to have sustained a variety of names.— Lea- ving the harbour and Town of WilHam Henry, you are soon carried into one of the canals which pass be- tween the numerous Islands already mentioned. The Islands themselves are covered with low and close woods, and are principally inhabited by herds of hogs which are let loose here in the spring, and recalled in the fall. These Islands conceal from the eye of the passenger, the mouth of the River Yamasca. Quebec, 1809. THE DELIVERANCE OF EUROPE. The following beautiful and animated specimen of pulpit eloquencci is taken from a Sermon published hi/ the Jievd. J, Alison^ senior Mi- nister of the Episcopal Chapel, Cowgate, Edin- burgh. It was delivered on the daj/ of thanksgi- ving for the success of the Allies in the Spring of 1814, and being yet little known in this country i may be applied with great propriety to the events of the present year> The great conflict of the social world is over : — The mighty are fallen ; and the weapons of war have perished. — The cry of freedom bursts from the unfet- tered earth and the banners of victory wave in all the winds ot heaven. Again, in every corner of our own lU THE CANADIAV VIsnOR. land, the voice of joy and of gbdncfi3 is heard. The dieerful sounds of labour rise again from ojr Btreets, and the dark ocean begins again to brighten with our «ail8. Over this busy scene of human joy, the genial influer.oes of Heaven have de'^ccnded. The unclouded aun of summer has ripened for us all the riches of the hrrvest. T!)e God of nature hath ci owned the year with his goodness, and all things living are filled with plenteousness. Who is there that has not felt the bles- sings of the year ? Even the infant, while he partakes, unconsciously, of the general joy, lifts his innocent hands to that Heaven from which he sees come all the hopes of man ; and the aged man, when he remembers the sufferings of former years, is apt to say with the good old Simeon in the gospel, ** Lord, now let thy " servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy " salvation." * But there are other, and more general subjects of thankfulness, my brethren, which ought now to occu- py our minds. In this solemn hour we seem to be con- ducted by the hand of Ht'aven, like the disciples of old UiUo an high mountain, from which we may look down upon {he darkened world we have left, and upwards to those scenes where Heaven is displaying its glory. The images of the past, and of the future, are thronging around us ; and, wherever we turn, there are new sub- jects of gratitude that arise before us. * Our hrst subject of thankfulness on this day, is for our Country; that she has survived all the dangers which threatened her ; — that she has fulfilled the lofty duty to which the will of the Almighty has called her. Dear even to the savage heart is the land of his fathers; —dear to the citizen of civilized ages are the instituti- ons of national wisdoin, and the monuments of n2tional glory ; — but upon no human heart did the claims of his country ever fall so deep and so irresistible, as they now do upon the citizen of this country Other nations have preceded her in the road of arts ar:d armp ; — other na- tions iiave wreathed aroundiheir brows thelaurels of sc!- oMce, andthe palms of victory : But ihc high destiny to which she has of late been called, no oiler nation ha^cver THE CANADIAN VISITOR. ]12 tharetl whhher ; and all the glories of former times fade before the moral splendour which now encircles her. She has been called to guard the fortunes of the human race ; to preserve, amid her waves, the uacred fl ime that was to relume the world ; and, like the cherubim that watched the gates of paradise, to turn every way her flaming sword against the fotsof God and man. The-e were her duties, and nobly has «he fulfilled them. Through every dark, and every disasirous year ; — while nation after nation sunk around her j — while monarchs bent their imperial heads beneath the yoke, and the pulse of moral nature seemed to stand still in ignomi- nious terror. — She alone hath stood, insensible to fear, and incapable of submission. It is her hand, that, amid the darkness of the 8to:tn, h:ith still steadfastly point- ed the road to liberty j it is her treasures which have clothed every trembling people with armour for the combat ; — it is her sons, (her gallant sons ! ) who have rushed into the van of battle, and first broke the epell that paralyzed the world j and, in these recent days, it is her commanding voice that has wakened the slum- bering nations of mankind, and sent them on their glo- rious march, conquering and to conquer. — And ncvT, my brethren, in the hour of her triumph, — now, when all that is brave or generous in the human race bow be- fore her, — where is she to be found? And what is the altitude in which she presents herself to her children ? — Oh, — not in the attitude of human pride, or human arrogance ; — not with the laurels of victory upon her brow, or with troops of captives following her chariot wheels : — It is in the attitude of pious thankfulness ; with hands uplifted in praise, and eyes downcast in gra- titude ; — it is before the Eternal Throne that she bows her victorious head, and casts her crown of glory upon the ground, and calls her children to kneel along with her, and to praise the Father of Nature that be hath se- lected her to be the instrument of his mercy to mankind. These are triumphs to which the history of the world has no pairallel. In the long line of her splendour, what hour is to be compared with this ? Which of us doea 113 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. nos feel somewhat of her glory to be reflected upon our own heads ? And what British heart is there which does not pray that such may be ever her name, and her character among mankind. * Before the gigantic march of violence and of ambi- tion, the human head seemed every where to bow, and the human heart to lose its energy. Kings sunk frona their thrones, and nations surrendered their liberties. The occupations of industry ceased ; — the intercourse of nations was arrested ;— and men seemed quietly to resign themselves to poverty and to suffering, that one arrogant nation might rule, and one impious mind tri- umph. It seemed, to our desponding eye, as if the old age of the human race had come, — as jf the Sun of Righte- ousness was about to set amid the shadows of evening, and one long night overspread the moral world, These days, and these terrors, are past. The spirit of God hath again moved upon the face of the deep, and the order and the harmony of creation is again beginning to appear. The dread career of guilt and of ambition hath been run ; their temporary triumphs fade ; and the E- ternal hand hath marked the line whither they shall come ar.d.'^o farther, and where their proud waves shall be staid. From every corner of the baptized world ; "from '* the east and from the west ; from the south and from ** the north," the warriors of justice and of freedom come. The sovereigns even lead the way, and place the helmet upon their imperial brows, and march with their people into glorious battle. Beneath their victorious banners kings re -ascend their thrones, and nations reco- ver their liberties. The fetters fall fro: j Mt ha-'ds of in- dustry ; the ocean ecnoesanew to thf iso i r ' .he mar- ner ; hberty and joy re-enter the po^. ii.uii's u welling ; and the voicf^ of the mother is no longer weeping for the children that have been torn from her arms to swell the hosts of a tyrant. Who is there among us, my breth- v^n, that is admitted to witness this moral Transfigura- ion. who doth not hear also the the voice of God ? and iS ttic touniry ifum which, in tliese blest days the «ung of triumph does not rise, " The hosts of the guihy THECANADIAW VISfTOn. lU arc scattered, a«d the Lord God Omnipotent reiVneth." * Deep m hath been the gloom which so long has set- tled upon the societies of men, its most appalling feature hath been its impiety j and when you trace the late mise- ries of mankind to their source, you will find them all to originate in that cold and cheerless spirit of Infidelity, which arose in the centre of European civilization ;-!, which dried up, as it spread, all the fountains of great- ness, or of generosity in the human soul ; — and which, di'isolving all the obligations, and all the charities of life, ceased not till it had extinguished both the majes- ty of the throne and the sanctity of the alrar. It was from this dense and pestilential vapour that that terri- fic form arose, upon which, like the vision which ap- peared unto the prophet, the world for so many years has gazed with astonishment and with alarm. It was from hence that those impious hosts have issued, whose crimes and whose impieties have still more appalled man- kind than their arms ; who warred not with the com- mon guilt of men, against the wealth or the liberties of nations, but against all'that man holds dear, or nations think holy j — who struck the dagger of their enmity, not into the bosoms but into the souls of the conquer- ed ; — and who thought their infernal triumph incom- plete, until they had overthrown every altar at which human misery wept, and was comforted.' ARENARIUS S ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS PROPOSED IN NO. 4. Q. 1. The area of every rhombus being equal to one of its sides multiplied by the perpendicular breadth; the area divided by that perpendicular must give the side. Hence, 20 divided by 3^ or 20 X ^t = V = ^h the side of the rhombus sought. Q. 2. A mile in length containing 5280 feet, a square mile is H* times 5280 multiplied by 5280 inches. But a ton of oil or of wine contains 252 times 231 cubic inches. Hence 252 times 233 _^ 7 times 7 144 times 5280 times 5280 4 tiriies 160 times 5'280 115 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. ~:-^J,^ equal to the 6«963d part of 1 inch, the thickness of the stratum thus expanded over a square ,mile, a degree of tenuity altogether inconceivable, and yet demonstrably certain. Q. 3. One ounce of water measuring t7j*^<5^^ o' » eubicfoot, 1000 ounces must measuie one cubic foot, and 1000 ounces of oil ^^h more, or ?-^ of a cubic foot. Hence the ^th of an ounce measures -^I-^-q oi a foot, or * j5-^4| cubic inches, and an acre containing 6,272,- 640 square inches, the thickness of the stratum in thi^ • 21 times 1728 7 ^^^^^^ '80000 luneb (3272640 800U0 times 1210 — „^^-'^^_^or the 13728571st part of one icch. *J'his tenuuy is siill greater than that found in the laat case ; but the most extraordinary circumstance is, that even at this amazing thinness, the oil is found capable of smoothing the face of the water in a violent storm. Q. 4. Forty-seven multiplied by 360, and divided by 24, gives us 705 miles for the hourly motion of every place in this latitude ; and this divided by SbOO gives 1034 feet for the motion of the same place? per second. Q. 6. The proportion of 1034 to 200t, or nearly Q. 7. A nail being a pyramid, and every such bo- dy being one third of the prism cf the same base and altitude, it foilows that 3 nails may be made out of such a piece of iron. Q If we suppose the diameter of the dollar to be 1 ; then, the thickness of the four quarter dollars is twice that of the dollar ; and since the areas of circles are as the squares of the diameters ; twice the square of the diameter of the quarter dollar is equal to the square of that of the dollar, or equal to 1. Hence, the former square is equal to j, and us square rooot or the diame- ter of the quarter dollar, is equal to the square root of I or nearly ,^5. Q. 9. If the t'^-ckness of the dollar be 1, then four times that » f the quarter dollar, whatever it be, multi- plied by 25 is equal to 64. Hence, the required thick- nees is -yl^ or ^f of that of the greater coin. THE CANADIAN VISITOR. OCTOBER, 1815. " The fading rnanly-colourd woods, " Shade, deep'ning over shade, the country round " Imbrown ; a crowded umbrage, dusk and dun, Of every hue, from wan declining green, To sooty dark." 4i /^CTOBER was the eighth month of the year id ^^ Romulus's calendar, which the name implies ; though the tenth in that of Numa, Julius Casar, &c. October has still retained its first name, in spite of all the different appellations which the senate and Roman emperors would have given it. October, says Peacham, in drawn in a garment of yellow and carnation ; upon his head is a garland of oak-leaves, in his right hand the sign Scorpio, and in his left a basket of services. REMARKABLE EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED ON THIS MONTH. 1. — 1770. Died at Newbury, about 40 miles from Boston, in Nortli America, the Rev. George Whit- field, a native of Gloucester ; at the Bell Inn of which city, then kept by his mother, lie was born in 1714... He was a minister in the established church, and a ve- ry celebrated preacher among the Methodists, br»th in England and America. He instituted the orphan- house at Georgia ; and erected two extensive build- ings for public worship in London j one of them in Tottenham-Court-Road, and the other near Moor- flelds, and had many establishments of the same kind m various parts of the kingdom. No. VI. L 117 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 19. — 1806. Died, at Cambridge, Henry Kirke White, who in the course of twenty-one years, the span of his brief but illustrious career, by indefatiga- ble perseverance in study, unquenchable ardour of ge- nius, sincere and progressive piety, disiinguished him- self as a scholar, a poet, and Christian : whose reliques will long continue to astonish and delight the public ; and whose story, though mournful, will nevertheless be held in everlas ing remembrance, as a cheering exam- ple to youthful genius, when struggling with poverty, or assailed by temptation. In addition to the exhausting labours of an attor- ney's clerk, this extraordinary youth employed his lei- sure hours in acquiring a knowledge of the Greek, La- tin, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese langua- ges } in each of which he made considerable progress. Chemistry, astronomy, and electricity, were also num- bered among his morning, noon, evening, and midnight amusements. If time be computed by its occupation, he made a minute of eveiy moment of his leisure, and every day added sensibly to his stock of knowledge. He had also a turn for mechanics ; and most of the furniture of his little study was the workmanship of hia own hands ; but his most delightful relaxation was the exercise of his powers of composition, both in prose and verse ; and his works (now in every body's hands) exhibit abundant proofs of his uncommon ability and his transcendant worth. When, by the kindness of friends, Mr. White was placed at college, he continued his studies with such intense application, that in his^rj^ term, he was pro- nounced the first man of his year. Never, perhaps, had any young man, in so short a time, excited such expectations ; every university honour was thought to be within his reach ; he was set down as medallist, and expected to take a senior wrangler's degree ; but these expectations were poison to him ; they goaded hini to fresh exertions when his streno"th was snent, and his mind worn out, and soou brought him to his grave I THM CANADIAN VISITOR. 118 The moral qualities of Henry KIrke White, his good sense, and his whole feelings, were as admirable as hb industry and his genius. It is not possible to conceive a human being more amiable in all the rela- tions of life. Of his fervent piety, his letters, his pray- ers, and his hymns, will afford ample and interesting proofs. Religion was in him a living and quickening principle of goodness, which sanctified all his hopes and all his affections, which made him keep watch over his own heart, and enabled him to correct the few symptoms which it ever displayed of human im- perfection. He was born at Nottingham ; his father, still living ( 1 81 1 ), is a butcher ; and his mother keeps a respectable boarding school for young ladies. See «< The Remains of Henry Kirie White, of Nottingham^ late of St. John's College, Cambridge ; with an ac- count of his life, by Robert Southey. 20.-- 1687. Lima, the capital of Peru, in South America, was destroyed by a most dreadful earth- quake : an event which was annually noticed in that city after it was rebuilt, until it met with a similar catastrophe in 1746. 28. — 900. Died, Alfred the Great, King of England, born at Wantage in Beikshire, A. D. 849, being the youngest son of ^thelwolf. King of the West Saxons. He was a prince of great learning and courage, and of a most amiable disposition. The va- rious vicissitudes of fortune that he experienced form a very interesting part of the English history. At length however, he totally repulsed the Danes, and firmly es- tablished himself on the throne of England. He first divided the Kingdom into counties, hundreds, and ti- things ; and it is to him that we owe the inestimable privilege of trial by jury. He was buried at Win- chester. — 1704. Expired John Locke, one of the great- est phiIoi»opher3 that England ever produced. He was ^orn ai Wrington, near Bristol, ia 1632L and has imf 119 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. mortalized his name by several political and other works ; the principal of which, " Letters upon Tole- •* ration,'* ♦« Essays concerning Human Understand- « ing,»» u Treatises on Government," " Paraphrase " and Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul," &c. have attained universal esteem, and will preserve it as long as good sense and virtue are left in the world. In his private conduct, Mr, Locke considered civility not only as a duty of humanity, but of Christianity ; he was exact to his word ; regularly performed whatever he promised ; was very scrupulous of giving recom- mendations of persons whom he did not well know, and would never commend those whom he thought not deserving of praise. These may seem trivial notices in the character of so great a man ; but my young read- ers should know, that they are of infinite importance in the duties of social life. The last scene of Mr. Locke's life, says Lady Masham, was no less admirable than any thing else in him. All the faculties of his mind were perfect to the last ; but his weakness, of which only he died, made such gradual and visible advances, that few people do so sensibly see death approach them, as he did. During all which time no one could observe the least alteration in his humour ; always cheerful, conversible, civil to the last day, thoughtful of all the concerns of his friends, and omittirg no fit occasion of giving Ckristian advice to all about him. In short, his death was like his life, truly pious, yet natural, ea- sy, and unaffected ; nor can time, I think, continues her Ladyship, ever produce a more eminent example of reason and religion than he was, hving and dying. The day before his death, this amiable woman being along with him, and sitting by his bed-side, he ex- horted her to regard this world only as a state of pre- paration for a better ; adding, ** That he had lived " long enough, and thanked God for having passed «• his life so happily ; but that this life appeared to ** hin» mere vanitv,*' He left also a letter to be de- livered, after his death, to his friend Anthony Collins, THE CANADIAN- VISITOR. ISO coBcludlne, *« that this life is a scene of vanity, which •* soon passes away, and aflFords no solid satisfaction, •* but in tlie consciousness of doing well, and the hopet " of another." FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. Nothing very important of a political nature hat been received since our last. It appears, that the tyi rant and disturber of nations, is sent to a place from which it is hoped he will not so easily make his escape as he did from his former place of banishment. !»• stead of retiring with the title and fortune of an Env peror, as he did to the Island of Elba, he is now stripped of all his titles and estate and literally banish* ed to the barren Island of -St. Helena ; wlieie all good men must wish him to remain until he repent of the black catalogue- cf crimes which stands charged^ against him. But should he live to twice the age, a* lotted to man, and devote all. his time to acts of chari- Xy and benevolence, he could not pay the interest of the sum of blood and treasuie which he has wantonly thrown away. — In him let all tyrants read their destiny ( We turn with pleasure to a more interesting scene j to a scene which must delight the christian and phi* iantbropist ; I mean the remarkable spread^of religi* ous knowledge, of which almost every -new arrival givei IIS fresh intelligence. As in the natural world the sun enlivens the extent oive regions of the globe by his genial rays, and is be. held with admiration and delight by the remotest na- tions of the earih, so in the moral world Great Britain is beheld with astonishment and admiration for extend- ing the light of divine truth to all the distarU parts of the inhabited world. That this remark is literally true, all will acknow*> hfAaf. vt\\i\ Have •'.•ad 'l><* 1 net V^£kr\g\^ L3 r.r »Vio n. n n w*%^»\ £ ?.««<«, x^ti^izti sii>k\A t21 THB CANADIAN VISITOR.' Foreign Bible Srcicty ; and the reports of tliose be- nevolent Societies whose object is to extend moral and religious information to all classes and descriptions of the human family. — We would close this article in the words of the Saviour, and apply his command to eve- ry nation and individual on the globe — " Go thou and ** do likewise." ¥^ DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. %v»<^»w% We lament that we have again been called to wit- iieSB a distreswng fire, in Pres-de-Ville, a part of the l,ower*Town of Quebec. It 18 only six weeks siiT-w the other fire happened in this place, which was mentioned in our last. In both ©f which, property to a very large amount has been consumed, but we are happy to learn, that no lives have been lost. It is strongly suspected that both of these fires were kindled intei^tionally ; which renders the cases mcwe alarming ; for if we have such aban- doned wretches amongst us, whose property or life is lafe ! ! Never was there a town better situated for leading the water to every house, and having reservoiis to be applied in case of fire breaking out, than Quebec. And what a pity it is, that the mhabitants should be depri- ted of so great a convenience and security against the ravages of fire, meiely for the want of a'little attention. Doubtless the Insurance Company in England, would stibscribe hberally towards defraying the expense of carrying the water to different parts of the Town, if jome benevolent individuals would begin the business* We learn from different parts of America, that rnich damage has been sustained of late, in consequence c£ uncommonly high winds and tides. Many vessels have been dismasted and some cast away. Kja me easrem cuasi ui rvcw-ii.i.-^!at!M »x *= rd ; the fol- lowing child the third word ; and »»> on to the end of the lesson : each child of the class taking up the word that falls to his turn, until the lesson is concUided- The advantage;* attending this process are, first, that the attention of the whole clasn is completely secured j it being impossible for a child to look off his book, without incurring the the risk of missing his word, and consequent ly of 1 )sing his place in the class : secondly, that the labour of overcoming the difficulties of the les- 8on, which m the common way would, in a lesson con- sisting of but a few sentences, be thrown on two or three only of the chiUlien, is equally divided among them all: thirdly, tha: by thus breaking down the lesson into sin- gle words, and cvncentrating the attention of the class upon each wotd in succession, a most effectual prepa- ration is made for the remaining parts of the lesson. "The next step, after reading the lesson word Bff Kvordt n to read it in the common way. Each child n'^'W reads generally to a full stoj) j and the lesson is repeated until all the children have triken their turnskin reading. 'J'hronghout the whole le^^son the utmost at- t«ntion and vig lance are requisite on the part of the teacher: it being a furdair.entalrule »-f the school, that no eir«>r, however slight, ^ball be suffered to pass on- jioticed, or uncorrectt d. if a child omits, or mistakes, a word, or even a letter, be is Uable to degradation • THE CANADIAN VISITOR. lU a« it i« the duty of the teacher instantly to apply to the next child, and, if necessary, to all the children in succession ; and on no account to rectify the mistake himself, until the whole class has been tried. Even a coarse or provincial way of pronouncing a word, though sanctioned by the general practice of the district, is immediately noticed by the teacher ; and exposes the child, who uses it, as much to the correction of those below him, and consequently to the loss of his place, as any other impropriety in reading would do. The lesson having been gone through, in this lat- ter, or common way, a sufficient number of times for every child to take his part once at least in it ; the books are closed ; and the children proceed to spell out of book all the words, or all the more difficult words, as the teacher calls them over. Should the slightest mistake be made in spelling any of the words, they are instantly set down by the head child of the class : who has always his slate with him for the pur- pose. These are distinguished in the school by the name of the mis-spelt a8t leso ass may rd8> for n inier- :hrough id read^ in gene- aie not ot spell o which and this se, ihey From the f the im- made in riends to promo- duties of on of the , « That their education was to be entrusted.'* In then- infan- cy the nurses were instructed to indulge them neither in their diet nor in those httle froward humours which are so peculiar to that age ; to inure them to bear cold and fasting ; to conquer their first fears, by accustom- ing them to solitude and darkness. Their diet and clo. thing were just sufficient to support nature, and defend them from) the inclemency of the seasons. Their sports and exercises were such as contributed to render their limbe suple and their bodies compact and firm. Their learning was sufficient for their occasions ; for Lycur- gus admitted nothing but what was truly a/^/rd many THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 130 were constrained to say " this is the Lord's doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes." Schools for aduhs in London have now commenced auspiciously, and an Address on the subject from the Sunday School Union is preparing, calling for the at- tention of Britain and the world to this important sub- ject. From this new impulse, added to the exertions for youth, may we not anticipate both young and old, the rising and sinking race, shall read and understand the glorious and animating truths of the Bible. The sentiment uttfered by our venerable, aged, be- loved, and afflicted sovereign, " that it was his wish, that every poor child in his dominions should be able to read the Bible," exalts him more in the estimation of the intelhgent and generous mind, than sovereign sway over the world ; and two of his sons, while they are actively employed in giving their father's pious wish an extended and practical effect, are truly enobling themselves. They are instrumental in encouraging those excellent plans of education suggested by Dr. Bell, and so well improved and carried into more ex- tensive effiect by Joseph Lancaster. "Dr. Ford, the Ordinary of Newgate, who has continual opportunitfes of investigating the fatal cau- ses of depravity, ascribes tlie commitment of crimes to the want of early instruction in reading ; consequently a total want of Religion, as well as of every moral principle : and his statement to the following effect is a melancholy proof of his assertion. ** Going into the desk, at the Chapel in Newgate, the first Sunday af- ter the Session, I saw twelve men in the condemned felons* pew, whose deportment and dress were decent and respectable. When I announced the day of the month, and mentioned the Psalm, I was astonished to observe that none of these convicts took up a Prayer Book, (though several lay before them) neither did and of the party seem to know a particle of the Cburck M2 m THE CANADIAN VISITOR. Service,or when to stand, sit, or kneel. In a conver- sation I had v/iih them the next day, I enquired how h happened that none of them opened a Prayer Book during divine service. Upon this there was rather an appearance of confusion, and a dead silence. I put the question a second time, when one of them hesitatingly stammered out, * Sir, I cannot read, nor /, nor J, nor /, was rapidly uttered by them all." I have here the pleasure to introduce an extract of an excellent speech delivered in the House of Com- rains, on the 1st July, 1812, by Joseph Hume, Esq. one of the members for Weymoujh ; " It may reasonably be expected that, by means of Penitentiary Houi'ep, and the diffusion of education among the mass of the people, more progress will be made in reducing the catalogue of crime?, than by any measures of Police, or Acts of the Legislature, which can be tried. « I am induced to form that opinion from the well known state of Scotland, and shall submit to the House comparative abstracts of the number of commitments in Scotland and England, taken from the documents upon your table. « T could state the number of commitments for of- fences, and the proportion they bear to the population of each country, and I think some useful deductions might be made from the evident difference in them j but at present I shall only particularise a few, and add the general result as average. <♦ In London and Middlesex, the proportion of com- mitments in 1811, was one in every 641 souls ;— in Bedfordshire, one out of 2,600 ;--in Kent, one m 1 ,766 ;— in Yorkshire, one in 4,750 j— in Norfolk, one in 2,044 ;— in Suffolk, one in 2387 ;— and in Surrey, ^«« \r, \ KK"} - Kilt if we take the averacre of commit- ments, and population, for seven years in England, and THE CANADIAN VISITOR. 1S2 81X111 Scotland, ending 1811, the proportion will be tlms : Population. Committed. ;; w"n^"^' 9.499,400 4,777. or I in every 1,988 souh n f ?'' . ^^^"^^^ "^2' ««• » •" every 8,486 In Scotland , 1,804,86 4 89, or 1 in every 20,279 Total souls 11,911,64 4 4,938"committed for trial. The average number of those sentenced to death a)id executed in the same time, were as follows ; If ">« n,':i^"^,^'"^ ^"^ ^^^^^' ^^'^-2 P^'-«-"s, or 1 iTQ^ni "'"^'' ^"*^ 56 executed yearly, or 1 in Sentenced in Scotland, 7| persons, or 1 in 2.57,837 80ul«, and ^ executed yearly, or 1 in 515,676. nn .\rl ^^^^/'f^e^'l^t. are copied from the returns o the table of the House, and the calculations care- ul y made, there can be but little doubt of their cor- rectne.8, and they shew a difference of ten to one in uir^}"''?^ fl'""" ^" ^"^^^"^ "^^^^ th'-^" in Scot. rj^ll f " "^ "P?""''' ^^^"^ ^ «^ '"^^'"^*l t« think twi I from every information which I have received, tha the number of the lower classes who can read and write m Scotland, are as ten to one more than those in ^ngland, I am certainly warranted in assuming, that he excess of vice and crimes in England arises chiefly and I do think, ,hat the Legislature ought to turn hs serious attention to the general d.ffusioifof education HomI /l-^"'f'" conjunction with Penitentiary Wouses, of dimmishing vice ai.d preventing crime. i have no manner of doubt but that the ereat dif- ference in the number of offences, which the retu. s t^^Z^^f'Tr^T"^ ^"^"^' willbefo d hkc that of Scotland and England, to bear a direct pro- portion to the stale of education and religious dm es l.rg. umnufaccunng esiabii.hments te.ul rather to ^ene rate vice and di.solute habits ; but if Yorkshi.f for M 3 13S Tire CANADIAN VISITOR. iastance. an extensive manufacturmg county, ^V^* to have fewer ofFences commuted >". « *\^" ^^^'!'» which has scarcely any manufactories in it, I fi»d it ac- o'unted for by thl people in Yorkshire being the first ducated cou'nty in^Engjaud, and therefore cughMo encourage us to render education general— [Co///«i. ANECDOTES, SfC. ON IDLENESS AND IRRESOLUTION. A country man who wanted to pass a r.ver, stood loii^riron its ba.ks, in the foolish expectatior, that iTh Waters seemed to pass along quickly, they wo^d Koall «rnt e bv and he could walk over; but the Ta^ ^fl -'!* rea i- -.creased b, f..h tcrent. fmm the mountai,,. ( and it must for ever flow, be- fr^i fnto the river, and ibercfore the f .o:lsh IM.) St «a t long no.?gh. Jus. so the idle and irresolute 3 tT^es ovir bis Wks, or wastes in play the prec.- rt.em.. d.f.,ring the ta-k "j-P-Xt^^.^t at first i« easy >o be accoitiphslied, but whwli w ii oe come more aid m -re Utificult, the longer u ts neguxted. » - SINGULAR PRACTICE IN CHINA. T„ Pekin the metropols of the Chinese empire, ,„l"l^ ftea city in tL wo,M, -uin-.g u^-.d. of , wo millio„s of inhabit m,s , as soon a "'?''« h-«^' r:if p:«^.fr.xle:;ir.h'e t::^ lAave ... ."edtorlst Nofinasseobly, ab»ll, cr an evemng theat e i, to be found : " The.e." said one .-f the Em- tnir " are fit only f"r rug.ies a d vagabonds^"- ^:Zt .J!.^d:>. every b.^y is iu mouon, and the ;rree.sa.eine.an.'y '^'"^f'^ i;„ L„„d:..n, and AXT/ir** the saa^e piat.ce aa(jpicu m *-• ' ,ZV^IL i. 'th.s couury, there would be fewer THt CANADIAN VISITOR. 134. murders and robberies committed, and the number oF drunkards and other disnipaied characters would be greatly lessened. HEAVEN CANNOT BE BOUGHT. The late Rev. Mr. Lalri»be visited a certain noble- man in Ireland, who devoted considerable sums to cha- ritable purposes, and among other benevolent acts, had erected an elegant church, in his parish, at his own expence. The nobleman touk particular pleasure in shewing Mr, I^atrobe his estate, and among other things, pointed out to him the church which he had bnili 5 at the same tnne saying, • Now Sir, don*t you think Mfl/ will merit heaven.* Mr. I.atrobe, after a mtiment's pause, said, * Pray, my Lord, what may your estate be worth a year V * I ima ,rine,* said the noble- man, * about thirteen or fourteen thousand pounds.* • And do you think, my Lord,' answered Mr. La- trube, « that God would sell heaven even for thirteen or fuurteen thousand pounds.** Astonishing, that any one vr! o has a bible in his hand, should suppose it possible that man, who is a sir ful depraved benig, can ever me/ it heaven ; or that God whi) 13 the giver of every g(jod and perfect gift, will sell salvation Tor a sum of inon; y, — Should not this nobleman have known that an apostle had declaied, •♦"We are not rcdeemt d with corruptibK* things, «uch as iilver and gold, but with the precicus blood of Chiist.** How fiequt-ntiy d'.> we sci- persons who wish to go to heaven, not htcau e they Icve Goc3, but mertly to e cape the i<»rmeats rt hell, spending part of their pro- perty m the herv ce of religio laiid fluiering themselves with a hope of the safety ».f diTir sTaie, though th^y aie hving in the neglect of the g"8].el, and the indul- gence . f ev 1 passion's. — Smli person'; would rather give away some of their m nty, thai, oppnoe i:ne sinful pas- tiiMi^ or believe a fr -e ad full su vauon without money and without pi ice ; bui they are awfully Jiusiakcn if 135 THB CANADIAN VISITOR, they suppose themselves to be christians ; and especi- ally, if they imagine that heaven would make those happy who love sin. — [7*otf/A'j Magazine, POETRY. THE FALL OF THE LEAF. By the late Bishof Horne, Isaiah LXI V. 6. — ITe all do Jade as a Leajl SEE the leaves around us falling, Dry and wither'd, to the ground ; Thus to thoughtless mortals calling, With a sad and solemn sound, " Sons of Adam ! once in Eden, Blighted when like us you fell ; Hear the lecture we are reading, 'Tis, alas ! the truth we tell. Virgins ! much, too much presuming On your boasted white and red, View us, 'late in beauty blooming,. l|yimber'd now among the dead. - - • Griping misers !' nightly waking, See the end of all your care ; Fled on wings of our own making. We have left our owners bare. ♦ Sons of honor ! fed on praises, Flutt'ring high on fancy'd worth j Lo ! the fickle air that raises, Brings us down to parent earth. Learned sophs ! in systems jaded. Who for new-ones daily call ; Cease, at length b^s persuaded, Ev'ry leaf must have a fall. Youths ! tho' yet no losses grieve yoU| Gay in health and manly grace, XiCt not cloudless skies deceive you, Summer ^ivcs to autumn jilacc. » i THE CANADIAN VISITOR. Venerable sires ! grown hoary, Hither turn th* unwilling eye ; Think, amidst your falling glory, Autumn tells a winter nigh. Yearly in our course recurring, Messengers of shortest stay, Thus we preach this truth unerring, Heav'n and earth shall pass away. On the tree of Life Eternal, Man let all thy hopes be staid, "Which alone, fok kvkr vernal, Bears a leaf that ne'er shall fade^** 136 IS WAR CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION ? [As no question wai proposed for consideration this month, a few observations and remarks will be made in answer to the^above inquiry. Whether war is really inconsistent with the religion of Jesus Christ, or not, is an inquiry of great importance to every Christian, especially, since its eflfects spread such distress in the world that the earth often bleeds at almost every pore. * While it is admitted by every christian that if the gos- pel universally influenced the hearts and actions of all mankind, it would totally destroy the spirit and practice of war from the face of the earth, it appears to be a self- evident proposition that war is contrary to the religion of Jesus Christ. Since, however, it is a melancholy truth that christians do engage in war with their fellow men, and since the nature and practical consequences of war, are such, it forms the strongest apology for offering an examination of it in the light of the gospel to the public] Humanity, wrisdom, and goodness at once combine all that can he great and lovely in man. Inhumanity, fol- ly and wickedness reverse the picture, and at once repre- sent all that can be odious and hateful. The former are ♦$7 THE CANADIAN VISITOR. the spirit of Heaven, and the latter fhe offspring of hell. The spii-it of the gospel not only breathes " glory to God in the highest, but on earth peace^ and good will to men," The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable^ gentle, easy to be entreated. But the wis- dom from beneath is earthly •, tensual and devilish. It is exceedingly strange that any one under the light of the gospel professing to be guided by its bles- sed precepts, with the Bible in his hand, while the whole creation around him is so aften groaning under the weight and terrors of war, should have doubts whether any kind of wars under the gospel dispensa- tion, except spiritual warfare, can be the dictate of any kind of wisdom, except that from beneath ; and much more so, to believe that they are the fruit of the diviiie spirit, which is love^ joy% and peace. An inspired Apostle has informed us from whence come wars and fightings. I'hey come from the lusts of men that war in their members. Ever since the fall mankind have had naturally with- in them a spirit of pridcy avarice, and tevenge. Tlie gospel is directly opposite to this spirit. It teaches humility, it inculcates love, it breathes pity and for- giveness even to enemies ; and forbids rendering evil for evil to any man. It is admitted by all, that war canni^t exist without criminality somewhere, and generally, where quarrel- ling and strife are, there is blame on both sides. And how it is that many christians, who manifest a lauda- ble zeal to expose and counteract vice and wickedness in variouii other fo ms, are silent on the subject of war, silent as to those parts, or practices of war which are manifestly and indisputably criminal, is to me mysteri- ous. There has been a noble and persevering opposi* ■ tion against the inhuman and cruel practice of the slave trade ; and by the blessing of God, the efforts against 11 nave oeen successiur, piijuauiy, i<.u mc mnw, ir^y^m-^ the most sanguine expectations. When the lawfulness of this practice was first called io quefiiion, it was v#- THB CANADIAN VISITOH. 13S olently defended, an well by professing dniatians, as by others. Comparatively few christians, fifty years ago, doubted the propriety of buying and holding slaves ; but now a man advocating tlie slave trade, could hard- ly hold in this vicinity, a charitable standing in any of the churches But whence has arisen so great a revo- lution in the minds of the mass of professing chri8tian3 on this subject ? It has happened, not because the spirit or precept of the gospel have changed, but be- cause they are better understood, . Christians, who have been early educated to believe that a doctrine is correct, and who cheri h a respect for the instructions of their parents and teachers, sel- dom enquire for themselves, after arriving at years of maturity, unless something spec al calls up their atten- tion ; and then they are too apt to defend the doctrine they have imbibed, before they examine it, and to ex- ert themselves only to find evidence in its favour. Thus error is perpetuated from generation to generation, un- til God in his providence raises up some to bear open testimony against it ; and as it becomes a subject of controversy, one after another gains light, and truth is at length disclosed and established. Hence it is the solemn duty of every one, however feeble his powers, to bear open testimony against whatever error prevails, for God is able from small means, to produce great effects. Most christians believe that in the millennial day all weapons of war will be converted into harmless uten- sils of use, that wars will cease to the ends of the earth, and that the benign spirit of peace will cover the earth as the warters do the seas. But there will be then no new gospel, no new doctrines of peace ; the same bles- sed gospel which we enjoy, will produce " peace on ♦* earth, and good will to men.'* And is it not the du- ty of every chiistian now, to exhibit the same spirit and temper which will be then manifested ? If so, let evei7 one * follow the things that make for peace,* and the God of peace shall bless them. 4tl INDEX FOR THE SIX NUMBERS. Oniaiif of the nomc^f the months May, page 1, Jtft»e, 21, July 45, August, 70, September, 92, October, iTe. I^BMARKASLX EvENTS wfcich 0C-. cunred on the above mentioned Hontbs, page 1, 21, 45, 70, 92, and 116. FoKsiaN Intem^igkncs, page 3, 23, 46, 72, 95, and 120. DoMBfmc Iwrsi-uGKNCK, page 4, 24, 47, 73, 93, and 121. Ph Sducatiok, extiacted from the book entitled the Village School Imjtrovedt by the Revd. J. Poole, page ^, 49, 74, 99, and 123. FkoposALs for a Philanthropic Society, page 5. ExTAACT frps^|Ount Rumford's works, ]^8ge1|r Industry & Application page, IS. The pleasures of learning, 1 4, Ambodotis, &c. page IG, 39 and PoSTRT, page, 17, 41,' 61, 89, and 135, MisscUaneous Questions and An- swers, t>afill^^ 42, 65, 91, and 114. On roisspentflme, • 29. Tlie Court ot Death, - 34. The Life of Howard, - 55. On the Excellency of Order ii bu4ness, - - - 53. Proud|kne;v^olenc«^ - 56. InfldlH^rtned, •> - 57. Descriptioiy«if the Hag-Fish, 58. The MecljjMsm of the Eye, 76. On Sensibility, - - 78. Cruelty to Animals, ■*•' 82. Discontent,- - - - 84. Reflection on Anger, - 85* Extraor^nary Mental Powers, page 89. Hints on Elementary Instruc- tion, page 102. On Benevolence, - 1 04. Examples of Benevolence, 106. Description of the b inks of the St. Lawrence, - 108. Deliverance of Bwrope, 1 ! (\ Education of Adults, Sunday Schools, &c. page 128. Is war consistent with the princ> pies of the Christian Religion, page, 136. ERRATA. f On page I7tb, in liue 6th, for labours read nHgkbowit. On page 27, in the i^ifa iitit* aficr Qui wtird «jr«lvin, the rw«uer !jil »c