islands it is called mace, and here it is erroneously termed the nutmeg blossom. The third bark immediately covers the nutmeg itself, which is taken out of its shell and put into lime-water, where it remains for some days, and is then sufficiently prepared for exportation.

Cotton grows in most parts of Asia, Africa, and America. It is the fruit of a kind of pod, which, when ripe, opens and presents a flock of extremely white down, and this is called cotton. When the pod is swelled by the heat it becomes as large as an apple. By means of a little mill they make the seed fall on one side, and the cotton on the other. It is afterward spun for different works.

Olive oil is the expressed juice of the fruit of the olive-tree, which is very abundant in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The inhabitants of the countries where these trees abound make use of the oil instead of butter, because the grass being withered by the heat, they are not able to keep many cows.

Pepper is the fruit of a shrub whose stalk requires a prop to support

it. The wood is knotty like the vine, to which it bears a near resemblance. The leaves, which have a powerful smell, are oval, and terminate in a point. In the middle, and at the extremity of the branches, are white flowers, whence the fruit grows in bunches, each fruit bearing from twenty to thirty peppercorns.

It is highly pleasing to reflect upon the great variety of aliments designed to afford us pleasure, as well as support. The grateful mind loves to consider those blessings which the divine bounty has so abundantly bestowed upon us. Every country contributes to our necessities and comfort: the most distant climates yield us their rich stores, and whilst we enjoy them at our ease, let us not forget those suffering and hard-labouring people, who have been torn from their homes, and seen their dearest ties snapped asunder, to drag out a miserable existence in providing for the luxuries of men, who call themselves Christians

SEPTEMBER XV.

THE STRENGTH OF MAN COMPARED WITH THAT OF ANIMALS.

Though the human body appears to be more delicate than that of most animals, it is yet much stronger in proportion to its size than that of the most vigorous animals. A man's strength is best estimated by the weight he is able to carry. If it was possible to unite a single point, or in a single effort, all the strength that a man exerts in a day, it would be found that the weight he could lift every day a foot from the ground, without injuring himself, would be equal to one million seven hundred and twenty-eight thousand pounds. Men accustomed to hard labour can generally carry a burden of one hundred and fifty or two hundred pounds weight, without much exertion; and

common porters often carry loads from seven to eight hundred pounds weight. The size of a man's body in proportion to that of a horse is as one is to six or seven; if then the strength of the horse was proportioned to that of a man, he ought to be able to carry a load of twelve or fourteen thousand pounds weight. But no horse can carry so much; and allowing for the difference of size, his strength is only equal, if not less than that of a man. A French experimentalist has ascertained the strength of the human body, by having a sort of harness made, by means of which he placed on every point of a man's body, standing upright, a certain number of weights, in such a manner, that each part of the body supported as much as it could bear relatively to the rest, each having its proper proportion of the load. By means of this machine, a man supported a weight of two thousand pounds, without being at all overloaded.

We may also judge of a man's strength by the continuance of his exercise, and the agility of his motions. Men accustomed to hunting will outrun horses, and can continue the chase longer: and even in a more moderate exercise, a man accustomed to walking will travel each day farther than a horse can. At Ispahan, couriers go nearly thirty leagues in ten or twelve hours. Travellers inform us that the Hottentots overtake lions in the chase, and that the American Indians pursue the elk with such rapidity that they tire it and then seize it, though this animal is as swift as the stag. Many other remarkable things are related of the fleetness of the Indians, of the long journeys that they perform on foot, over the most rugged mountains, and through countries where there is no track or road. It is reported that these men perform journeys of a thousand or twelve hundred leagues in less than six weeks or two months. What other creature, except birds, can undertake such long journeys? Man in a state of civilization does not know how much strength he possesses; how much he loses by effeminacy, nor how much he can acquire by frequent exercise. Sometimes we find men of a very extraordinary strength; but this gift of nature, which would be so valuable if they were obliged to employ it in self-defence, or in useful labour, is of little advantage in a civilized state, where the powers of the mind are of much more avail than bodily strength, and where manual labour devolves on the lowest classes of society.

Here again we may acknowledge the admirable wisdom with which God has formed our body, and rendered it capable of so much activity. We cannot but regard with pity those indolent beings who pass their lives in idleness and effeminacy; who never exert their strength, nor exercise their powers, for fear of injuring their health, or shortening their lives. Why has the Almighty blessed us with strength, unless that we may employ it to some useful purpose? When, therefore, we dissipate it in indolence and inactivity, we oppose the will of our Creator, and become guilty of the basest ingratitude. Let us, in future, exert all our power and apply our several faculties for the good of our fellow-creatures, according to our situation and circumstances; and, if necessity requires, let us cheerfully earn our bread by the sweat of

our brow; even then our happiness is greater than that of thousands of our fellow-men, who groan beneath the insufferable yoke of slavery, and who, when worn out with labour and fatigue, and their strength is exhausted, have no means of procuring ease and comfort for their oppressed bodies, nor soothing voice of kindness to cheer the sad moments of sickness, or encourage their drooping soul; hope is denied them, and their only consolation is the silence of the grave. The more happy we find our lot, compared with these unfortunate victims of luxury, the more seriously ought we to apply ourselves to fulfil our duties; and the success of our labours should induce us to love and to praise God, who has vouchsafed to grant us strength and ability, and graciously continue to preserve them.

SEPTEMBER XVI.

INSTINCT OF THE BUTTERFLY IN THE PROPAGATION OF ITS SPECIES.

This is the season of the year when butterflies begin to disappear from the creation; but the race is not extinct; they live again in their posterity, and by a wonderful instinct they provide for the preservation of their species. From the eggs which they lay, new generations arise; but where do they place them at the approach of the rigorous season, and how do they defend them from the autumnal rains, and the penetrating frost of winter? Are they not in danger of being frozen or drowned ?

That beneficent Being, who gives wisdom to man, has also condescended to instruct the butterfly how to secure the only legacy it can bequeath to the world, by covering its eggs with a glutinous substance which is secreted by its own body. This sort of glue is so tenacious, that rain cannot penetrate through it, and the ordinary cold of winter cannot destroy the young ones contained in the eggs. It is worthy of remark that though each species always follows the same inethod from generation to generation, there is still much diversity in the means which different species take for the preservation of their race. Naturalists have informed us, that some of these insects lay their eggs at the beginning of autumn, and die soon after, whilst covering their tender young. The sun warms their eggs, and before winter a number of little caterpillars are hatched; these immediately begin to spin, and with their thread make themselves nests and very commodious lodgings, where they pass the cold season, without eating, and nearly without motion. It is also remarkable that the butterfly, like other insects, only lays its eggs upon those plants which agree the best with its young, and where they may find the necessary nourishment so that as soon as they are hatched they are surrounded by the aliment which is most proper for them, without being obliged to remove at a time when they are too feeble to undertake long journeys.

All these and many more circumstances of a similar nature, are calculated to make us admire the wise arrangements of an all-preserving Providence. If we do not require miracles, and things contrary to the usual course of nature, to affect and render us attentive, the consideration of the cares which these insects have for their offspring, so diverse in different species, but always uniform and constant in each individual, would fill us with the greatest admiration.

Let us, who are rational beings, learn from these insects to cherish in our hearts a love for our children, and to interest ourselves for the benefit of those who are to succeed us on the stage of life. Let not the fear that death may surprise us in the midst of our labours divert us from forming great projects, or undertaking noble enterprises; remembering that in thus devoting ourselves to the public good, we only repay to posterity the debt we owe to our ancestors. If parents of children were to imitate the female butterfly, which provides for the little ones which survive her, they would never leave their helpless children in want, but would place them in such a situation, that when the parents cease to live, their children should have no other cause of sorrow than the loss of a kind father, or of a tender mother. Though we cannot foresee, much less prevent, those misfortunes and contingencies to which they are liable, we ought certainly to take care that their future condition in life is not unhappy by our neglect. Would to God that all parents were concerned as becomes them for the future welfare of their offspring; that they would not leave their families in disorder and confusion; and that they would do well to regulate their domestic affairs, and that after their death their unprotected children might not be exposed to vexatious embarrassments, nor witness their inheritances enjoyed by strangers, and their property consumed by law-suits!

SEPTEMBER XVII.

THE VINE.

To be convinced how unreasonable and absurd it is to complain of the inequalities of the earth, we need only consider the nature of vines. The vine never succeeds well in a flat country, neither does it thrive on every hill; but only on those which have a south or east aspect. The highest hills, and steeps where the plough never reaches, are yearly covered with verdure, and produce the most delicious fruits. If the soil which nourishes the vine appears poor and destitute, the vine-producing plant appears equally unpromising. Indeed had we not known it by experience, we could scarcely have believed that a seemingly dry and mean wood should produce such a delicious liquor. The evaporation from the vine is so considerable, that one hundred and fifty-two inches of sap are required to rise in the space of twelve hours, to supply the fluid which exhales through the leaves.

Much wisdom is displayed in the distribution of vineyards over the

earth. They do not succeed alike in all places; to thrive well they should be situated between the fortieth and fiftieth degrees of latitude, consequently about the middle of the globe. Asia is properly the country of the vine, whence its cultivation has been gradually introduced into Europe. The Phoenicians, who at a very early period traversed the coasts of the Mediterranean, brought it to the continent and most of the islands. It succeeded remarkably well in the isles of the Archipelago, and was at length brought to Italy, where it multiplied considerably; and the Gauls, who had tasted of the grape juice, wishing to establish themselves in the country where it was produced, passed the Alps, and made themselves masters of both banks of the Po. The vine was soon afterward cultivated throughout France, and flourished upon the banks of the Rhine, the Moselle, the Necker, and in different provinces of the German empire.

The consideration of the vine may give rise to some very important reflections. As the most barren soils are good for the cultivation of the vine, so it sometimes happens that the poorest countries are favourable to science and wisdom. In provinces universally despised for their poverty, men have arisen, the rays of whose genius have beamed upon distant countries. There is no place so desert, no town so small, or village so miserable, as entirely to preclude the successful cultivation of science: all that is required for its increase is encouragement. What an inestimable blessing then we have in our power to procure, if we only will give ourselves the trouble of cherishing the virtues of the human heart, and improving those mental powers which we possess for the noblest purposes! Sovereigns, pastors, and teachers of youth, how essentially might you contribute to the happiness of your fellow-creatures, and of your remotest posterity, if, by proper exhortations, rewards, useful establishments, and adequate encouragements, you endeavoured to restore religion, science, and all the social virtues, into ruined cities, and desolate villages! Efforts like these can never be entirely useless. If we ourselves do not receive the recompense of our labours in seeing them attended with present success, our descendants will at least receive the fruit of them, and we shall be ranked among those excellent characters, who, by being the benefactors of the human race, have obtained the approbation of God and the benediction of their fellow-creatures.

The vine, with its dry and shapeless wood, is emblematical of those men, who, destitute of the honours of birth, and the splendour of rank, still do much good. How often it happens that men born and living in obscurity, whose external appearance promises little, perform actions, and undertake enterprises, which raise them above all the princes of the earth! And here we may reflect with advantage upon Jesus Christ himself; to judge of whom from the mean and abject state in which he appeared when personally on earth, we should not have expected those great and wonderful works which have made him the Saviour of mankind. He has shown us that we may be poor, despised, and miserable in this world, and yet successfully labour for the glory of God, and the good of our fellow-creatures.