taking a single stride? What mortal can be made to believe, without demonstra. tion, that the sun is almost a million times larger than the earth; and that although so remote from us that a cannon ball shot directly towards it, and maintaining its full speed, would be twenty years in reaching it, it affects the earth by its attraction in an inappreciable instant of time? Who would not ask for demonstration, when told that a gnat's wing, in its ordinary flight, beats many hundred times in a second; or that there exist animated and regularly organized beings, many thousands of whose bodies laid close together would not extend an inch? But what are these to the astonishing truths which modern optical inquiries have disclosed; which teach us that every point of a medium through which a ray of light passes, is affected with a succession of periodical movements, regularly occurring at equal intervals, no less than five hundred millions of times in a single second: that it is by such movements, communicated to the nerves of our eyes, that we see: nay, more, that it is the difference in the frequency of their recurrence which affects us with the sense of the di. versity of colour-that, for instance, acquiring the sensation of redness, our eyes are affected four hundred and eighty-two millions of millions of times; of yellow. ness, five hundred and forty-two millions of millions of times; and of violet, seven hundred and seven millions of millions of times, per second? Do not these things sound more like the ravings of madmen than the sober conclusions of people in their senses? They are, nevertheless, conclusions to which any one may most certainly arrive, who will only be at the trouble of examining the chain of reasoning by which they have been obtained.— Christian Observer, May, 1831. Primitive Steam Engine.-In 1629, a compilation was published, entitled Le Machine del Sig. G. Branca; Roma. It contains a description of all the machines known to the author. Among them is an zolipile-a hollow metallick ball, having but one small opening, filled with water, and placed on a brasier in such a manner, that the current of steam, issuing by a pipe, strikes the wings or spokes of a lit. tle horizontal wheel, and makes it revolve. It was remarked, in the year 1605, by Flurence Rivault, in his Elemens d'Artillerie, that æolipiles burst with a loud report when the steam was prevented from escaping. He adds, "the effect of the rarefaction of air will startle the bold'est man." Some of the French scientifick journals of the present day are endeavouring to show that the name of Solomon de Caus ought to be substituted for that of the Marquis of Worcester, as giving the first suggestion of the steam engine.-Literary Gazette. Pitcairn's Island.-Those who are familiar with recent accounts of the prosperous condition of the descendants of the mutineers of the English ship Bounty, residing at this place, will learn, perhaps with some surprise, that the whole number of them have emigrated from the island, on account of a deficiency of the necessary means of subsistence.-Captain Wilcox, of the whaling ship Maria Theresa, arrived at the port of New Bedford, on Monday last, informs, that while at Otaheite, the English transport ship, Lucian, arrived there with all the inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island, with the purpose of fixing them in a settlement at Otaheite, on account of a scarcity of water at the former island. A magnificent scheme is at this moment in operation in France to afford the means of useful and improving reading to the whole body of the working popula tion in France, by placing publick libraries in every one of the 40,000 communes (or parishes) into which the kingdom is divided. The scheme promises to be successful: it is provided by voluntary subscriptions, and the books are to con sist of the best elementary works on the arts, sciences, and literature, history, biography, poetry, and other subjects, selected by a committee in Paris. This is nicks' Institutes.-London paper. a decided improvement on our Mecha Bene Plant. We have been informed that the Bene Plant, which is to be found in some of our private gardens, is an infallible cure for the summer complaintthe lives of many thousand children have been saved by this valuable remedy. A single leaf of this plant put into a half pint tumbler of pure water and stirred round, the water immediately becomes ropy, but not discoloured; it is perfectly innocent-the taste not disagreeable-it has been administered with perfect safety to children, and in some instances to in fants only a few days old. M. Fischer, of Vienna, has discovered a new process of bleaching straw. Instead of smoking it with sulphur, as here. tofore, he steeps it in the muriatick acid saturated with potash. The straw bleached by this process never grows yellow, and is equally white, besides that it ac quires a great flexibility. A Quebec paper mentions that letters from Murray Bay, ninety miles from Quebec, on the North Shore, state that a violent shock of an earthquake was felt there on Thursday night, 6th instant, which awoke families in their sleep, and shook the walls of several of the buildings, so as to cause slight damage to them. It is interesting for farmers who raise Silk Worms, to know that cocoons, by being kept, lose considerably of their weight. A person who made fifteen pounds this season, after keeping them a BOMBAY. few weeks, found them reduced to twelve. This is occasioned by the dissolution of the dead chrysalis, which at last is reduced to powder. It is therefore the interest of those who have cocoons on hand, to dispose of them as soon as possible, otherwise they will suffer loss. Keligious Intelligence. MR. RAMSEY'S LETTER. I then told him of my walk during the " I then endeavoured to tell him of the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. He said that was a good way. When I told him that this world would be burned up, he seemed astonished. It was evidently a new idea to him. On the subject VOL. IX. Ch. Adv. of the resurrection he had no ideas, except that after the body was burned a part remained, which, upon being thrown into the river, was changed into another body. His notions on this subject were all confused; nor could I give him my meaning clearly, owing to my ignorance of the language; and many of the words I had to vocabulary. I felt sorrowful that I could use have no corresponding words in his not tell this poor heathen more about Christ. I hope that the Lord will soon enable me to learn the language of those among whom I may dwell, so that they may hear in their own tongue of the wonderful works of God. 25. While the ship was at anchor today, I went ashore again. I had not walked far before I picked up a human skull which lay bleaching in the sun. A few yards farther on, I saw the place where a man had been burned lately. The little bier of bamboo, and the earthen pots used on the occasion, were lying close at hand. The next object which drew my attention, was the ruins of a once celebrated pagoda, which even now bespeak its former grandeur. They are shaded by large trees, such as are to be found only in Asia. By a flight of stairs I mounted upon a platform of about four feet square, the place where I suppose the officiating priest stood. In the wall there was a kind of closet, where I presume the god was placed; but as to this, the persons with me could not tell. The next thing we came to was the village of mud huts. The houses and people are similar to those I saw yesterday. One man among the people I saw clad in a different style from the rest, with a sword and a spear by his side. He, I learned, was a kind of police officer, whose business is to keep the peace, but often makes a disturbthe end, brings a rupee or two into his own ance among the people himself, which, in pocket. I approached him, examined his sword, and the brass plate which had the name of the office he held, I suppose, inscribed on it in the Bengalee character. He seemed very kind. After leaving him I walked among the people, and was soon met by a beggar. This poor deluded mortal has had his wrist and the fingers of his right hand broken, which he holds out to 3 I those who pass by, and asks for pice." His right foot was also crippled in some way or other. Some of the toes seemed to be eut off, while the others were doubled under the foot. He had nothing on his old shrivelled body, except a piece of dirty muslin wrapped about his middle. I looked upon him with mingled feelings of pity and sorrow. This poor wretch has thus crippled himself merely for the purpose of getting his scanty pittance by begging, and thus save himself from the work which others are compelled to engage in. What will not men do for a little praise and for the sake of meriting, as they vainly sup pose, the favour of their gods? One of the natives showed me their gods and tom-toms. One ugly-looking god was shown me, and the person added, "This is my sister's, she prays to her god every day." I endeavoured to tell them of the true God, but they seemed not to understand. Oh! that I could tell them of Jesus in language which they could understand. After my return to the ship, I placed my writing desk on the capstan, and while writing there I saw five dead bodies floating down the river in less than two hours! But the sight which most affected me was that of a corpse lying on the shore, surrounded by fourteen vultures. I could see them tear the body to pieces; and as one flew away to devour his morsel alone, another took his place. While I gazed upon this disgusting and soul-sickening scene, a boat full of Hindoos passed along by the body. They seemed to be totally indifferent to what was going on, while the vultures only removed a short distance from the body, until the boat should pass by, and then returned again to their putrid meal. I had heard of these things by the hearing of the ear, but the half was not told me. Indeed language is unable to convey to the mind the disgusting scenes which daily meet the eye of a Christian in a heathen land. Oh if the people of God in America could but see the poor benighted heathen, hear their superstitious yelling, while at their worship, and view the sad and soul-sickening effects of their idolatry, it seems to me they would pray more and give more for the spread of the gospel among their perishing brethren than they now do. As yet, the more I have seen of their idolatry, the more I feel desirous to cast in my mite into the treasury of the Lord, and aid in bringing them to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. AFRICA. The following circular is from the missionary of whose most interesting speech we published a A small coin about the value of our cent. "The age in which we live is, perhaps, more distinguished for Christian enter. prise, than that of any other which has elapsed since the days of the aposties. "Within the last thirty years Christian Missions have been planted in a variety of places among the heathen, and, if they have not been all equally successful, none of them, of which we have heard, have been altogether without a certain measure of fruit. "The Bechuana Mission was commenced in 1817, and, after labouring under great difficulties and privations till 1828, with little appearance of success, it pleased God to crown our humble exertions with the Divine blessing; and the work which was so auspiciously begun at that period continues to spread among the people, and promises a harvest which we contemplate with pleasure, as a reward for our past anxieties and labours, and as a pledge of still greater success. We have on the station, and in its neighbourhood, thousands of people, who are now capable of appreciating and doing justice to the motives of the Missionaries, and who, generally speaking, begin to value the blessings of Christian instruc tion and civilization now introduced among them. Since they began to know the value of the gospel, they have done much towards the cultivation of gardens and corn-fields; and also to promote the stand in need of a place of worship-and general objects of the Mission; but we to erect a building sufficiently large to accommodate all the people who would attend divine service, is a work beyond their slender means. The iron must be carried from the colony; the wood must be brought from a great distance; an European must be employed to superintend the work; glass for the windows, and doors and hinges must be provided; all these require money, which the Bechu anas do not possess. "The foundation of a building for a place of worship, one hundred feet long, and thirty feet wide, was laid before I left the station, and the means of procuring a single plank, or stone, or nail, to aid us in completing it, will be most thankfully received by "Your humble servant, "ROBERT MOFFAT. "Cape Town, 1st January, 1831." LABRADOR. The United Brethren, or Moravians, as they are commonly called, have been the pioneers of modern missionary enterprises. They were active in this holy work, and active distinctively as a church, when other Protestant churches were almost asleep. They are still as active and devoted as ever; and we have often thought that if we had at our disposal a million of dollars for missionary purposes, about one half of it should be put into the hands of the United Brethren-None, we are persuaded, would employ it better. We extract the following article from the Missionary Herald for the last month. MISSION OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN LA BRADOR. General Notices respecting the Missions. The following extracts respecting the station at Okkak, are taken from a letter of the missionaries there, inserted in the last number of the Missionary Intelligencer, and dated Aug. 3, 1830. During the past winter, we have spent a blessed time with our Esquimaux congregation, and the presence of our Lord was felt in all our meetings, but particularly at baptismal transactions, confirmations, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper. The schools were punctually held, and diligently attended, and we experienced much satisfaction in the progress made by the scholars. Yet, there are several of the adults who cause us uneasiness, by their apparent indifference to the concerns of their souls, and some have deviated from the right way. Their number, however, is comparatively small; and even such declare, that they yet hope to be truly converted. The number of inhabitants at Okkak, is 388 Esquimaux, of whom 314 are members of the congregation. Thirteen adults, and two children above two years old, have been baptized; eight were received into the congregation; 16 became partakers of the holy communion; six couple were married; fourteen children were born; and three adults and three children departed this life. "We had many visiters last winter, who arrived in sledges, and again in summer, in boats, from the northern coasts. A few of them appeared to pay attention to our exhortations, and the gospel of our crucified Saviour seemed to make an impression upon their minds. One family, consisting of four persons, remained with us. gertluksoak is properly formed, we have "When the new settlement at Kan every reason to hope that there will be an accession of members from amongst the northern heathen. "To the venerable British and Foreign Bible Society, we return our most grateful acknowledgments for printing for us the Psalms of David. Our Esquimaux beg us to express their cordial thanks for this gift, and pray that the Lord may bless and reward their benefactors. dor. The thermometer never fell below 30 under 0, Fahr. In July it rose to 70." Another letter gives some additional particulars. "The winter was not severe for Labra "We can easily picture to ourselves of your society will look forward to the the eagerness with which the members arrival of the Harmony, and the receipt of intelligence respecting the establishment of a fourth station; and sincerely do we rejoice, that the news which we have to send you, is of so cheering a nature. Every thing seems to convince us that we have chosen the right time for this undertaking, and that the blessing of the Lord will not be withholden from it. Our dependence is upon him, and we are persuaded that he will not put our faith to shame, but furnish us in one way or another with the means necessary for the completion of the work we have taken in hand. While the Harmony was at this place, three boats containing from forty to fifty heathen from the northward, paid us a visit; but owing to the accumulation of business at this season, we were unable to give that particular attention to them, which we could have wished. Several of their number expressed their desire to hear the gospel, but could not resolve to remain with us, at the hazard of being separated from their relations. To use their own expressions, they felt them. selves unable to live with the believers.' If, however, the father of a family is desirous to be converted, the members of his household have no alternative but to follow him, and in this way many a soul has been brought under the sound of the gospel, and eventually won for our Saviour. "Our schools are diligently attended by about 154 scholars, and we have the pleasure to see, that the labour bestowed on their education is not in vain. Among so great a number, there are indeed various characters, some more and others less hopeful; but we have generally observed, that when an impression of the love of Jesus has been made on the heart, either of a child or an adult person, an increased facility in learning to read the word of God is the natural consequence. "We have thus far had an uncommonly fine summer; little rain or fog, and frequent and warm sunshine. Our garden produce will, therefore, in all probability, be more than usually abundant. The musquitoes, meanwhile, swarm around us in myriads, and while their reign lasts, we have no need of cupping; this opera tion they perform upon us with great dexterity, and but for the smoke of tobacco, to which their aversion seems as great as the partiality of our countrymen, we should probably lose more blood, as well as more patience, than we can afford to part with. We thank you, therefore, for sending us a fresh supply of this necessary herb." Under date of Aug. 16, the missionaries at Nain write "During the last season, we had the pleasure to baptize a married couple, and their child of four years old, as likewise a young woman, into the death of Jesus. This transaction occurs but seldom in our more southern settlements, to which few heathen resort. Eight children were born and baptized; six persons received into the congregation, and six among the communicants; four couple were married; two adults and five children departed this life. The number of inhabit ants is 245. "The last winter was moderately cold, and the Esquimaux could attend to their business of procuring provisions on shore. Being likewise successful in catching seals in nets, they suffered no hunger. They diligently attended both the church and school. "Our communicant congregation consists of upwards of 100 members, and we can truly declare, that, at the enjoyment of the Lord's Supper, his presence cheers at our souls. The festivals and memorial days were also seasons of great blessing. Our young people have made some progress in their learning; it is now not difficult for them to repeat many scripture texts and verses by heart; and we believe and hope that not only their memories, but their hearts retain them, and that they will be applied by the Spirit of God, now and hereafter, with profit to their souls." Respecting the success of their labours Hopedale, the missionaries state"The word of the cross, which we preach, has, in the past year, penetrated into the hearts of most of those who heard it. Few have remained indifferent, and we have perceived with joy that many have found, in the doctrine of Christ's atonement, salvation and deliverance from the power of sin. Some young people, who as yet turn a deaf ear to the exhortations given, continue in a wayward time when the good Shepherd will find course, and we wait with patience for the them, and bring them to his fold. In our schools, we have the pleasure to see the children making considerable progress, but some of the elder ones learn very slowly. Those in the first class can read well, and turn to scripture texts and hymns with great facility. "The winter was mild, and Fahrenheit's thermometer never fell below 26 degrees. On December 5th, our bay was covered with ice, which remained till June 12th. We now enjoy delightful mise a good crop of vegetables." summer weather, and our gardens pro The missionaries give the following description of the first Sabbath spent by them at Kangertluksoak in the year 1811. adopted as a permanent station. During the last year this place has been "Being Sunday, the missionaries went on shore, and visited all the Christian families, by whom they were received with and gratitude. Many strangers from the the most lively expressions of affection opposite coast had joined them, and they all seated themselves in a large circle on the grass. long ago forsaken the believers, was "Nikupsuk's wife, Louisa, who had here, and said, with much apparent conbered with them. She then seated hertrition, that she was unworthy to be numself at a little distance from the rest. cluding our boat's company, amounted to "The number of the congregation, inabout fifty. Brother Kohlmeister first addressed them, by greeting them from their brethren at Okkak, and expressing and our hopes, that they were all walking our joy at finding them well in health, worthy of their Christian profession, as a good example to their heathen neigh |