der, torrents of burning sulphur, and liquid metals, enveloped with clouds of ashes and smoke, are hurled to an immense distance; rocks, upborne by the force of the explosion, fall with a dreadful crash; and cataracts of fire pour down the steep of the mountain; the deluge sweeps over the villages, plantations, and cities; the earth rocks, aid they who escape the flood fall within the gulf made by the earthquake, or tossed from wave to wave, are bu ried in the general wreck.

JANUARY XXV.

Of Comets.

THAT remarkable star which derives its name from the vapour which surrounds it, may justly be ranked amongst the heavenly bodies which form a part of our system. Like our planets, it has its revolution round the sun; but it differs from them all, by its peculiar motion, orbit, and figure. Seen through a telescope, a comet appears full of spots and inequalities; but a thick vapour frequently renders it impossible to observe its figure. The number of comets in our system is about twenty-one, moving in different directions, varying in size, and of much greater density than our earch. Their figure is not always round, and they are not always equally luminous. The train, or tail, is so transparent, that the fixed stars may be seen through it, and sometimes it extends to an immense diatance in the heavens; the farther it reaches the broader it seems to become, and is at times divided into rays. When nearest the sun, the heat of a particular comet has been computed by Newton to be two thousand times hotter than red-hot iron, and it would retain this heat until it cane round again, though the period should be more than 20,000 years.

What we have just advanced on this subject is the result of observations made by astronomers. But there are many things concerning the heavenly bodies which we can never understand; and many of them are entirely re moved from our sight. Is a comet an aqueous planet, or a burning globe? Can it be inhabited, when at one time it is placed so near the sun that the heat must be exces

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sive, and at other times passing far beyond the orbits of other planets, it is immersed in the utter darkness, where the sun's rays have no influence? Has the Great Judge of the earth destined comets for the abode of the unrighte ous and the chastisement of the wicked? Shall these erratic bodies one day become the means of turning the planets from their orbits, and effecting their destruction? Or, are they still deserts, without form and void, as was the earth before the Creator made it habitable and fruitful? These questions cannot be resolved by natural wisdom; and from our incapacity in this respect we may learn humility, and be convinced how very limited are the powers of the human understanding.

Men too frequently neglect this truth. Were it present to their hearts, the appearance of a comet would not raise in their minds so many vain conjectures and fruitless opinions. Some men regard comets as the precursors of Heaven's judgments; and some read in their aspect the destiny of nations and the fall of empires. Others again predict, from their appearance, wars, famine, and plagues: and consider them as the severest scourge of man. These superstitious people never reflect that a comet is a natural body which does not derange the order of the universe, and the return of which may be calculated with certainty; neither do they consider that this body, as well as the other planets, must have a much more important destination than that which superstition allows them. Are we to be told that the Supreme Almighty Wisdom has placed these im mense and magnificent luminaries in the firmament, to announce to a few poor creatures the fate which awaits. them?

JANUARY XXVI.
Of Snow.

ALTHOUGH snow is very familiar to every one at this season of the year, its formation is sufficiently interesting to delight a mind fond of reflection.

Snow consists of watery particles frozen in the air: fro zen water becomes ice; and snow only differs from ice in this respect, that the water which constituted ice has been

frozen when in its ordinary density, whilst the water which forms snow has been frozen when its particles were separated and reduced to a state of vapour It has been proved by experiments that snow, at the first instant of its falling, is about twenty-four times more rare than water, and occupies ten or twelve times the space it does when dissolved. The formation of the flakes of snow is both curious and beautiful: and were it not so familiar an object, would certainly fill us with astonishment. Let us, each time we see the thick flakes descend from the heavens, think of the benevolent Creator of nature, which loveth all his works: which scattereth his snow like wool, and his hoar frost like the shining pearls; which commandeth the cold to bless and to fertilize the earth, and to whom be rendered, for ever and ever, all praise, honour, and glory."

JANUARY XXVII.

Rapidity with which Life passes away.

THAT life is transitory, and the thread of existence very fragile, we have ample experience from the earliest glimmerings of reason: every thing around us serves to evince the uncertainty of time. Let us consider how rapidly the days have fled and the years have elapsed, and how imperceptible has been their flight! If we attempt to recall them to our memory, to follow their rapid course, we shall find ourselves unequal to the task, and unable to mark the different epochs, unless they have been memorable for some remarkable incidents, which have made a forcible impression upon our minds. How many years of infancy, devoted to the diversions of that tender age, have fled unheeded, and left not a trace behind! How often during the giddy thoughtlessness of youth, when beguiled by passions, and pursuing wild pleasures, we had neither opportunity nor desire for reflection!

When succeeding years have rendered a change of habit necessary, some have thought that they would act more as became rational beings; but the eares of the world occupied their attention, and so possessed their souls as

to prevent their reflecting upon the manner in which their hours had been passed. Their family increases, and their cares and efforts to provide for their necessities likewise accumulate. Old age insensibly approaches, and per haps there will then be an equal inability and want of leisure to reflect upon the present, or to remember what they have done, and what they have neglected to do; thus they never know the great end which they were designed to answer in the creation.

Let no one defer reflecting upon this state till old age; for he can never be certain of attaining to it. So delicate is the tree of life, that with difficulty it advances to maturity often nipped in the bud, it perishes before its pe tals have expanded; even shoots of vigour, which promised to flourish with strength, and with beauty have their sap withered, and die. To leave the language of metaphor, how many a noble youth, formed in nature's fairest mould, just as his virtues are beginning to open, and his mind to beam bows beneath the pale messenger! How many of the softer sex, with charms sweet as the opening morn, whose attractive graces entwine the heart, live but to shew the beauty of nature, and then, as if too refined for this sphere, wing their flight to purer regions! If we are permitted to pass the period of youth safe from the dangers which threaten, we are still uncertain as to the continuance of another hour. Let this reflection then induce us ever to live as if the present day was to be the last of our existence, and we shall then pass the time in employment suited to the nature of intelligent and rational beings.

JANUARY XXVIIL

Hoar-frost observed on the Glass of Windows.

IN this little phenomenon we may observe with how much simplicity, variety, and order, nature arranges her least productions. Though we frequently admire the extraor dinary figures which the frost on glass presents to us, we seldom consider them with much attention. This phenomenon is occasioned by heat, which in a close apartment seeks to diffuse itself on all sides, and to penetrate

cooler bodies. Hence it glides through the close contexture of the glass, and in passing through leaves on the inside the portions of air and water to which it was united: it forms a cloud, which thickens as the heat passes out, till there remains too little in the chamber to hold the particles of water on the glass in a state of fluidity, and these becoming congealed produce that diversity of appearances with which the windows are covered. The beginning of these figures is formed by small filaments of ice, which insensibly unite: we at first see lines extremely fine. from which others proceed, which in their turn produce fresh filaments, resembling those which grow from a quill. When the frost is strong, and the first crust of ice is thickened, the most beautiful flowers, and lines of va rious kinds, sometimes straight, sometimes spiral, are produced. We may here learn a truth very essential to our happiness. Consider the flowers which the frost has pourtrayed on the glass; they are beautifully and artificially varied: yet one ray of the noon-day sun effaces them! So the imagination paints every thing beautiful to us: but whatever it represents as attractive, in the possession of the goods of this worid, is but a pleasing image, which the light of reason will dissipate.

JANUARY XXIX.

On the Use of Bread.

OF those aliments which are distributed with such abundance for the support of man, none seems to be more ge neral or more necessary than bread. It is consumed alike by the poor and the rich, by the sick and by the healthy; and would seem to be the food more particularly designed by nature for our support, and we find the plant which produces the materials for its preparation will grow, its fruit be matured, in almost every climate. We eat bread with pleasure from infancy to old age, whilst a continued succession of the richest viands cloys and satiates. Let us then, each time of breaking bread, be mindful of

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its great utility, and be grateful to the bounteous Giver of good for such a blessing. But how can we render our