perate, and the most pleasant of all the three seasons of the year; for, in all the continent of North America there is no spring." p. 163.

Chapter IX, on the theory of the winds in the United States. This is a very long chapter, and the subject appears to have been one, to which the Author paid great attention; but assuredly he had not a sufficient number of meteorological observations for a number of years to justify him in establishing a theory. We cannot go into all the details, and must pass them over with citing the following remark. "In Europe, especially in France and England, we complain of the inconstancy of the winds, and the variations they produce in the temperature of the air; but this inconstancy is nothing comparable to that of the atmosphere of the United States. I dare affirm, from a residence of nearly three years, that I never found the wind continue in the same point for thirty hours, nor the thermometer retain the same degree for ten hours. The current of the air is perpetually varying, not regularly round the compass, but from one point of the horizon to its opposite, from N. W. to S. and S. E. from S. and from S.W. to S. E. and from S. and S. W. to N. E. The changes in the weather are subject to like sudden contrasts. In the same day, even in winter, there will be snow in the morning, the thermometer at o (Reaumur,) and the wind at the N. E. and E.; towards noon, six or seven degrees, and the wind at the S. E. and by S.; and towards evening, one and two degrees below freezing point, and the wind N. E. In summer, two hours after noon, the heat will be twenty four and twenty five degrees, and fair weather; a storm of wind will come from the S. W. followed by rain for four or five hours; at six or seven, a cold and strong N. W. wind; and before midnight, the thermometer will sink to seventeen and even sixteen degrees. In autumn only, from the middle of October to the middle of December, there are found several successive days of westerly winds, with a serene sky. A state of weather rendered remarkable by its variety !"

A comparison is exhibited in Chapter X, between the cli

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mate of the United States and that of Europe, in reference to the winds, the quantity of rain, evaporation, and electricity. On the quantity of rain he gives the following tables.

Hence it appears, that in Europe there falls, in the same space of time, less rain by one third, than in America; and yet Doctor Holyoke has cited twenty towns in Europe, which, at a mean of twenty years have had one hundred and twenty two days of rain, while Cambridge has had but eighty eight, and Salem ninety five.”

A variety of facts prove the evaporation in America greater, than in Europe; and the electricity of the atmosphere still more considerable.

In the XI Chapter he examines into the influence of the Moon upon the winds; the effect of the Sun upon their whole system, and upon the course of the seasons; and the changes produced in the climate by clearing off the forests.

Having given this general analysis of the first volume, we defer the consideration of the second to another number. [To be continued.]

Discourses to young persons, by the late Rev. JOHN CLARKE D.D. 312 pages, 12mo.

minister of the first church in Boston. Boston, 1804, bound; price one dollar.

THIS volume is introduced to the public with a preface by the Editor, in which he pays a just tribute to the learning and professional talents of the author, and to the excellent spirit and manner of his writings. The object of this publication however is to promote early piety rather, than to enhance the literary reputation of Dr. Clarke, which is already sufficiently acknowledged. It contains seventeen discourses, selected from the posthumous manuscripts of the author.

Literary productions are to be valued according to the worth of their object, and the success, with which this object is pursued. That the morals and religion of the young are of the highest consequence to them personally, and to society in general, no one will controvert. That our author has done much for the advancement of youthful virtue and • piety, none of his readers can deny. These discourses were preached at various periods of his ministry, and selected without regard to any special arrangement. But they are not deficient in the recommendation of any virtues, or religious graces, and on some, afford "line upon line and precept upon precept."

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We think these discourses reflect honor both on the understanding and goodness of the author; on his understanding, because he has sought out the surest avenues to the youth ful heart; and on his goodness, because he has conveyed, through those avenues, pure and exalted sentiments, enforced with an interest and ardor, which can hardly fail to produce the designed effect.

In the first discourse, we find an apology for devoting so great a share of his public labors to the young, founded on the importance of early piety, and the greater hope of suc→

cess in his efforts on the susceptible minds of the young than on more advanced hearers.

On the importance of religion is the following compre hensive description of its ameliorating efficacy in the subjects of it.

"To such persons it is light in the midst of darkness; ease on the bed of sickness; safety in the hour of danger; " and tranquility in times of the greatest confusion."

The discourse on the youth of fortune, who solicited our Saviour's direction for obtaining eternal life, is highly interesting. His character, without indulging too much conjecture, he has happily portrayed. The concern, which our Lord took in his welfare, his amiable deportment, his regular life, and apparent sincerity, are justly considered the result of the interview feelingly deplored; and the whole relation applied to the young in a manner, calculated to recommend his virtues, and warn against his defects.

The following remark is to show the higher probability, that such a person is in the road to happiness, than the im-, moral and licentious; and that moral habits constitute the best preparation for religious faith and evangelical holiness.

"A man of his character is much nearer the kingdom of "heaven, than persons, destitute of morality. I have heard “it asserted, that there is more hope of the most profligate “and abandoned debauchee, than of a mere moral man. "Surely such a doctrine, as this, is not authorised from scrip

ture. Have the advocates of it considered the consequen❝ces? Does it not virtually make Christ a minister of sin, "and his gospel an encourager of licentiousness? Does it "not involve in it this absurdity, that the old world, had it "been more abandoned, might have escaped the deluge? "And, that Sodom and Gomorrah were not profligate 66 enough to be proper subjects of God's sparing mercy ?"

His discourse on duty to parents is fraught with true christian morality, and accompanied with engaging motives, to discharge with fidelity those filial offices, which grow out of the connexion.

In treating of the benefits of parental religion, he has happily blended the reciprocal duties of parents and children, and enforced them by appropriate counsel.

The joy, given to parents and friends from examples of early piety, our author has set forth in a captivating view.

In dwelling on the importance of an early acquaintance with the scriptures, he has furnished useful lessons to parents and instructers, as it regards the most interesting method of communicating religious knowledge.

The restraints of religion, and its tendency to correct the follies of youth, constitute another of his useful topics.

We cannot refrain from expressing the peculiar delight, we have received from his sermon on remembering our Creator in early life. In this discourse, after an illustration of what is implied in the remembrance of our Creator, we find a strain of simple exhortation to the young, which we have rarely seen equalled. It furnishes an example of eloquence, glowing, yet without enthusiasm ; engaging, yet altogether natural; persuasive, yet free from false alarm.

The following paragraph conveys to the young a caution to guard against forming their sentiments of religion from the characters of a certain class of its professors,

"It is your misfortune, that you form your ideas of the "nature and genius of christianity, not from the gospel it"self, but certain extravagant characters among its profes46 sors. From some oddities peculiar to them you draw a 66 strange portrait of the religion, they profess; but how un"reasonable a conclusion is this! It were far more philo "sophical to charge it to the air, they breathe, the food, they

eat, or the raiment, with which they are clothed. With "what propriety can you go to such characters for an idea "of christianity? Who thinks of consulting a hospital for "the healthiness of climate, or a highway for the justice and honesty of its inhabitants ?”

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Our author thus expresses his well grounded apprehension for the cause of religion.

"We come upon the stage at a time, when every thing,