human body cannot be disputed, because it is founded on a certain principle, which is, that our health greatly depends upon the weather, and the constitution of the air we breathe, and these are materially affected by the moon.

In general we ought to admit it as a principle, to the glory of our Creator, that in all natural things there are certain connexions which influence the animal economy in various ways. There are doubtless in the atmosphere many wonders unknown to us, and which may occasion considerable revolutions in nature; and there may certainly occur many phenomena in the corporeal world which are influenced by the moon. The light reflected from her during the night is probably one of the least of the purposes she answers; and her being placed so near to the earth was perhaps to produce certain effects upon it, which the other planets could not do, because of their greater distance; for we have reason to believe, that every thing in our system has some relation to our globe. The beauty of the universe consists in the diversity and harmony of the several parts which compose it; in the nature of their effects, and in the total of happiness which results from the various combinations. If then we believe that God has arranged all, and established the connexions which exist among the spheres, we shall banish from our minds every superstitious fear of the influence of the moon and planets, and shall no longer suffer vain terrors to pervade our hearts; but we shall be convinced such ideas are contrary to divine wisdom; and as we become persuaded that he who governs all things with infinite goodness and power, operates only for the happiness of his creatures, we shall confide in him with certainty, and repose upon his parental regard with joyful and heartfelt gladness.

SEPTEMBER XIII.

THE MINERAL KINGDOM.

We require many materials to enable us to procure wholesome and convenient dwellings. If these materials had been scattered over the face of the earth, considerable inconvenience would have been experienced, and plants and animals would scarcely have had sufficient room. But happily our earth is free from such encumbrance. Its surface may be traversed by its inhabitants, or cultivated without any hinderance. Metals, stones, and several other substances which we continually use, are enclosed beneath our feet in immense receptacles, whence we extract them when we want them. These bodies are not concealed in the centre of the earth, nor are placed at an inaccessible depth; they lie beneath the surface, which covers them as a dome, and which, whilst it is sufficiently thick to produce nourishment for man, is thin enough to be readily dug through; so that we can obtain the substances contained in these vast storehouses of nature.

All the substances in the mineral kingdom may be divided into four classes, each having its distinguishing characteristic. The first class includes the earths. This name is given to such bodies as are not dissolved by water, fire, nor oil, which are not malleable, and bear the action of fire without losing any of their substance. This class, besides the simple earths, includes the stones which are composed of them. Of stones, there are two kinds, precious and common; the latter are the most numerous, and present us with masses differing in figure, colour, size, and hardness, according to their component parts. There is also a considerable diversity among precious stones. Some are perfectly transparent, and these appear to be the most simple; others are more or less opaque, according to their particular compo sition.

Salts form the second class in the mineral kingdom. They are divided into acids, which are sharp and sour; and into alkalies, which impart to the tongue a bitter, burning, and lixivial sensation; these have the property of changing vegetable blues into green, whilst the acids convert blue into red. A certain combination and mixture of these two different salts, form what are called neutral salts. Among these is classed common or kitchen salt, which is extracted from the earth, or prepared from sea-water by evaporation. All these salts are one of the principal causes of vegetation. They also probably serve to unite and strengthen the parts of plants, as well as of other compound bodies; and they produce fermentation, the effects of which are so various.

The third class of the mineral kingdom comprehends those inflammable bodies, which are generally called bitumens. These burn in the fire, and when they are pure dissolve in oil, but never in water, They differ from other minerals, by containing more of inflammable matter, which renders those bodies in which it is found in a sufficient quantity combustible; and there is more or less of it in all bodies.

The fourth class contains the metals. These are the heaviest of all bodies; they become fluid if exposed to the action of a strong heat, and resume their solidity when cooled. They are resplendent and malleable. Some of them when melted in fire experience no diminution of weight, nor any sensible alteration; and these are called the perfect metals; of which there are three species, gold, silver, and platina. The imperfect metals are destroyed more or less readily by the action of the fire, and are converted into oxides, One of these, lead, has the property of being converted into glass, and of vitrifying all other metals, except gold and silver. The imperfect metals are five in number, viz. mercury or quicksilver, lead, copper, iron, and tin. There are besides other metals distinguished from these in being neither ductile nor malleable; these are called semi-metals, and are seven in number, platinum, bismuth, nickel, arsenic, antimony, zinc, cobalt.*

* The division of metals into perfect and imperfect, into metals and semi-metals, is now generally discarded. Since the author wrote the above, more metallic substances

The whole mineral kingdom may be regarded as the workshop of nature, where she secretly labours for the benefit of the creation; but we are ignorant of the way in which she operates, and we cannot discover how she forms the various substances which she presents to us. We are not well acquainted with the surface of the earth, much less do we know the interior. The deepest mines are not more than six hundred and thirty fathoms below the surface, and that is not the six thousandth part of the earth's diameter. This alone is sufficient to convince us of the impossibility of having an exact knowledge of the nature and formation of the various substances in the mineral -kingdom. But fortunately, in the use which we make of the gifts of nature, it is of little consequence whether or not we are exactly acquainted with their origin and first principles. It is sufficient for us to know how to apply them to the most beneficial purposes; and we know enough of them to be convinced of the glory of the Creator, whose power, wisdom, and goodness, are manifest in every thing above or beneath the earth,

SEPTEMBER XIV.

EXOTIC PLANTS.

Men never regard with sufficient attention the gifts of God, particularly those which come to us from distant countries. If we considered how much labour and industry are required before we can obtain a little sugar, or cinnamon, we should not receive the gifts of nature with such unconcern as we generally do; but we should look up with gratitude to that Supreme Being who makes his blessings flow to us through so many channels. At present let us consider those foreign productions which have become so necessary to us, and without which we should feel much inconvenience. From such a consideration useful reflections may arise, and we shall probably regard with more pity our unfortunate brethren who are condemned to slavery, and whose severe labours procure us so many luxuries.

Sugar is found in a certain reed which is principally cultivated in Brazil and the neighbouring islands; and it also abounds in the East Indies, and some of the African islands. The preparation of sugar

have been discovered, and for the reader's information I have inserted, from Thompson's Chemistry, the following more complete arrangement,

does not require much art; but it is very laborious, and is chiefly per formed by slaves. When the canes are ripe, they are cut down, and carried to the mill to be bruised, that the juice may be extracted from them. This juice is first boiled, by which means it is prevented from growing sour and fermenting. When it boils they skim it, take off all impurities; and this boiling is repeated four times in four different vessels. Still further to clarify and purify it, they throw into it a strong lye of wood-ashes and quick-lime; and lastly, they cast it into moulds, that it may coagulate and dry.

Tea is the leaf of a shrub which grows in Japan, China, and other parts of Asia. These leaves are gathered two or three times during the spring. Those of the first gathering are the finest and most delicate, and constitute what they call imperial tea; but it never comes to Europe, that which the Dutch sell under that name is only the second gathering.

Coffee is the kernel of a fruit resembling a cherry. The tree which bears it is a native of Arabia, but it has been transplanted into many warm countries. Next to Arabia it flourishes best in the island of Martinique. The kernel which is found in the middle of the fruit is called a berry; when fresh it is yellowish, gray, or pale green, and it preserves this colour when it is dry. The fruit is spread on mats for the purpose of being dried in the sun; it is then bruised with rollers, that the fruit may be separated from the kernel; and hence it is that each berry is divided into two halves. The kernel is dried a second time before they are shipped.

Cloves are the buds or dried blossoms of a tree which formerly grew without culture in the Molucca islands; but the Dutch have since transplanted it to Amboyna. The tree itself resembles the laurel in size and form; its trunk is covered with bark like the olive-tree. White flowers grow from the extremity of the branches. At first the buds are of a pale green, they then become yellow, afterwards red, and at length of a dark brown, such as we see them. They have a more penetrating aromatic odour than the mother clove, which is the dry fruit of the same tree.

Cinnamon is the second or inner bark of a species of laurel or baytree which grows chiefly in the island of Ceylon. The root of the cinnamon tree is divided into several branches, and is covered externally with a grayish bark; but the inner bark is red. The leaf would resemble that of the laurel, if it was shorter and less pointed. The flowers are small and white, with an agreeable fragrance like that of the lily. When the tree has attained some years growth, the bark is stripped off, and the outer bark being good for nothing is thrown away; the inner bark is dried in the sun and rolled up in sticks, and is then what we call cinnamon.

Nutmegs and mace are the produce of a tree which grows in the Molucca islands. The nut is covered with three rinds; the first of which falls off when the nut is ripe; and then the second, which is very thin and fine, appears; this is detached with much precaution from the fresh nut, and exposed to the sun to dry. In the Molucca

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