transport himself over seas and oceans, to visit other climes, and other tribes of his fellow-men; he lives in the desert, uncivilized and comfortless; the fertile soil over which he roams, is covered with thorns and briers and thickets, the haunts of beasts of prey; his enjoyments are little superior to those of the lion, the hyæna, and the elephant, while he is much their inferior in point of agility and strength. But when he has once discovered and applied the principles of mechanics, and introduced the practice of the useful arts, "the wilderness and the solitary place are made glad, and the desert rejoices, and blossoms as the rose." Cities are founded, and gradually rise to opulence and splendour; palaces and temples are reared; the damp cavern, and the rush-built hut are exchanged for the warm and comfortable apartments of a substantial mansion; ships are built, and navigated across the ocean; the treasures and productions of one country are made to supply the deficiencies of another; intercourse is opened up between the most distant tribes of mankind; commerce flourishes in all its departments; and machinery of every kind is constructed to facilitate the labour, and promote the enjoyments of man. True it is that we should aim at something higher, and better, and more noble than mere material prosperity; yet surely it must be in accordance with the purposes of our being, and with the will of the beneficent Creator and Governor of all, that we should turn to the best account, for our own welfare and happiness, those ample resources which His bounty has placed at our disposal.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

Name some of the chief moving powers. Why are machines necessary? What purposes do they serve? What is meant by the power and the weight? Is the word "weight" correctly applied here? Give instances of machines in common use. How does a machine increase the effect of a moving power, since it does not create force? Name the mechanical powers. What is a lever? How many kinds of levers are there? What is the difference between them? What is meant by the arms of a lever? Give examples of levers of the first kind-of the second-of the third. Describe the common balance-the steel-yard. Describe the mechanical action of the forearm. Give a familiar example of the wheel and axle. What is the condition of equilibrium in the wheel and axle? Show that this machine is virtually a lever. Describe the steering apparatus

of a ship-the capstan. What is a windlass? How are wheels connected so as to move one another? What is a pinion? How is velocity of motion obtained in wheel-work? What is a pulley? a fixed pulley? a movable pulley? What is the use of a fixed pulley? Show that a movable pulley doubles the effect of a moving power. Why is it advantageous to gain power at the expense of time? What is the effect of combining pulleys? Give examples of the inclined plane. What is the condition of equilibrium on the inclined plane? Why is a road up a hill made circuitous? What is a wedge? and for what used? Show that the screw is a variety of the inclined plane. Describe the effects of mechanical discovery in promoting civilization.

THE BONFIRE OF CRAIG-GOWAN.*

[WILLIAM S. DANIEL, a poet of considerable note, died recently in Edinburgh, where he was well known to the literary circle. He is the author of "Lays of the Crimean War" and other poems.]

A horseman sweeps at the dead of night
Through the forest braes of Mar;
And headlong is his star-lit flight—
The messenger of war!

Wildly panteth his foaming steed,

Yet for brae nor banks stays he,
But flies, with a Highland eagle's speed,
By the rushing waves of Dee.

In the cot the herd-boy lifts his head
At the strange and startling sound,
And stares, with slumber's wondering dread,
As the hoof-sparks flash around.

The roe-buck springs from his lonely lair
Beneath the birch-tree's branches fair,

While down his sides the fear-drops stream;
And the white owl sails through the troubled air,
Like the creature of a dream!

But on flies the steed, with flowing mane,
On his dark and desolate track,
And proudly he champeth the useless rein,

For Vict'ry rides on his glossy back!

*The news of the fall of Sebastopol (Sept. 1855) was conveyed to the Queen at Balmoral. On receipt of the intelligence, she immediately ordered a bonfire to be kindled on Craig-Gowan Hill, overhanging Balmoral Castle.

On to the gentle lady's halls,

Who wears old Scotland's crown;

And "Hurrah, hurrah," the horseman calls, "Sebastopol is down!"

Swift as light

Is the tidings' flight,

And, with beating heart, but air serene, 'Neath the glorious stars of a Highland night, Forth steps the Queen!

"Fire the pile on Craig-Gowan height!" The fair Victoria cries,

While the triumph-glance of Britannia's might
Beams through her queenly eyes:
"Light the pile on Craig-Gowan height,
Light the mountain's head,

Till every peak 'neath my Highland sky
With the victory-fire is red !

Let it tell with its mighty tongue of flame
To Scottish heath and town,

That my foot stands on the proudest gem
Of the Russian tyrant's crown!

"Let it flush the glens with its glorious light, Where my kilted lads were born,

Who led the fight

Up Alma's height,

On the dreadful battle-morn;

The men who nobly know to die,

But cannot learn to flinch or fly

Who, on Balaclava's plain,

When the death-shot poured like rain,
Bore the waving feathers high
In face of Russia's chivalry;

And bade them in their might come on,
Till the fiery horsemen's shock
Broke like spray on granite rock,
Where my Highland bayonets shone !

"Oh that yonder flame could light
The hill-tops of the world,

Till sighing and down-trodden Right
Its sunny flag unfurled—

Till, with the bonds of serfdom riven,
By his own triumphant sword,
Man proudly raised his eyes to heaven-
The freeman of the Lord!

"But fire the pile on Craig-Gowan height,
Light mountain, glen, and sky—
Right tramples on the throat of might-
Light, light the bonfire high!"

W. S. DANIEL.

THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA.

[SOME vague differences as regards the religious toleration of their subjects had taken place between Nicholas, the late emperor of Rusia, and the Grand Sultan of Turkey. Britain and France failed by mediation to effect a reconciliation, and Nicholas invaded Turkey, in 1853, with a large army. Britain and France, acting as the allies of Turkey, in their turn despatched an army to the Crimea. The battle of Balaclava, one of the most spirited and exciting contests of the campaign, was fought on the 25th October, 1854.]

THE cavalry who have been pursuing the Turks on the right are coming up to the ridge beneath us, which conceals our cavalry from view. The Heavy Brigade in advance is drawn up in two lines. The first line consists of the Scots Greys, and of their old companions in glory, the Enniskillen Dragoons, the second of the 4th Royal Irish, of the 5th Dragoon Guards, and of the 1st Royal Dragoons. The Light Cavalry Brigade is on their left, in two lines also. The silence is oppressive; between the cannon bursts one can hear the champing of bits and the clink of sabres in the valley below. The Russians on their left drew breath for a moment, and then in one grand line dashed at the Highlanders. The ground flies beneath their horses' feet; gathering speed at every stride, they dash on towards that thin red streak

topped with a line of steel. The Turks fire a volley at eight hundred yards, and run. As the Russians come within six hundred yards, down goes that line of steel in front, and out rings a rolling volley of Minie musketry. The distance is too great; the Russians are not checked, but still sweep onward through the smoke, with the whole force of horse and man, here and there knocked over by the shot of our batteries above. With breathless suspense every one awaits the bursting of the wave upon the line of Gaelic rock; but ere they come within a hundred and fifty yards, another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries death and terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. "Bravo, Highlanders! well done!" shout the excited spectators; but events thicken. The Highlanders and their splendid front are soon forgotten; men scarcely have a moment to think of this fact, that the 93rd never altered their formation to receive that tide of horsemen. "No," said Sir Colin Campbell. "I did not think it worth while to form them even four deep!" The ordinary British line, two deep, was quite sufficient to repel the attack of these Muscovite cavaliers.

Our eyes were, however, turned in a moment on our own cavalry. We saw Brigadier-General Scarlett ride along in front of his massive squadrons. The Russians-evidently corps d'élite their light blue jackets embroidered with silver lace-were advancing on their left, at an easy gallop, towards the brow of the hill. A forest of lances glistened in their rear, and several squadrons of grey-coated Dragoons moved up quickly to support them as they reached the summit. The instant they came in sight, the trumpets of our cavalry gave out the warning blast which told us all, that in another moment we should see the shock of battle beneath our very eyes. Lord Raglan, all his staff and escort, and groups of officers, the Zouaves, French generals and officers, and bodies of French infantry on the height, were spectators of the scene, as though they were looking on the stage from the boxes of a theatre. Nearly every