climates; for in the most fatiguing journeys, they are never found to crack. Their great power of abstaining from drinking, enables them to pass unwatered tracts of country for seven or eight days, without requiring any liquid. They can discover water by their scent, at half a league's distance; and after a long abstinence will hasten towards it, long before their drivers perceive where it lies. Their patience under hunger is such, that they will travel many days fed only with a few dates, or some small balls of barley-meal, or on the miserable thorny plants which they meet with in the deserts. A large Camel will traverse the deserts with a load of a thousand or twelve hundred pounds. When about to be loaded, at the command of the driver, the animals instantly bend their knees. If overburdened, they give repeated blows with their heads to the person who oppresses them, and sometimes utter lamentable cries.

THE LOADSTONE

Is a stone of a dark grey colour, and has the virtue of attracting iron. This virtue is not equal throughout the whole stone, but resides chiefly in two of its points, called the poles of the loadstone. When this stone is suspended by a string, and unconfined, it constantly points out one of its ends to the north, and the other to the south, if first put in motion; and then left to itself. This regular direction, which only varies a little in some particular parts of the world, has given the name of the north pole to that end of the stone which points to the north, and south pole to that which points to the south. The two properties of attracting iron, and pointing toward the north, are communicated to iron by rubbing it against the loadstone. This discovery introduced the magnetic needle, so indispensably necessary to navigators in long voyages. These virtues in the loadstone, have prompted naturalists to examine it further, with the hope not only of finding the cause of such surprising effects, but also of discovering new properties in the stone. They were more fortunate in the latter respect than in the former. It was observed that the loadstone does not at all times, and in all places, point directly to the north; but that it sometimes inclines a little to the east, and sometimes to the west, more or less. It was remarked, that its attractive powers were always equally strong, though some bodies were placed between the iron and the stone, which might be supposed to prevent the effect: as glass, fire, water, men and animals, with every metal except iron. It was discovered, that in two loadstones, the two poles of the same, (the northern and southern) repulsed, and seemed to fly from each other. It was therefore concluded, that the power of attraction might be in the iron as well as in the loadstone, as they seemed to attract each other. In order to be convinced of the truth of this experiment, it is only necessary to hang a loadstone on one end of the beam of a balance, and put an equal weight at the other end; and when the loadstone is balanced, and not

in motion, to place a piece of iron under it; the loadstone will be immediately drawn down by the iron, and the other weight will fly up. If their situation be reversed, the loadstone will attract the iron in the same manner.

THE COFFEE TREE.

The Coffee-tree, whose seeds or berries afford a well-known and agreeable liquor, is a native of Arabia Felix, where it generally rises to the height of eight or ten, and sometimes twelve feet, with a trunk from ten to fifteen inches in circumference. It is covered with a grey smooth bark, and shoots out, through the whole length of its stem, a growth of branches, which are always opposite to each other, and the leaves, which resemble those of the bay-tree, arranged in pairs in the same manner. From the bottom of the leaves spring fragrant white flowers, very much like those of the jassamine; and when these flowers or blossoms drop off, they leave a small fruit behind, which is green at first, but reddens at it ripens, and is like a hard cherry both in shape and colour. Two, three, or more of these berries grow together, on the same part of the twig, each coated with a husk or tegument, enclosing another and finer skin, in which two seeds or kernals are contained, which are what we call Coffee.

THE TEA PLANT.

Of all the vegetable productions of China, the tea plant deserves particular notice, as its leaves afford by infusion, a favourite liquor, which is used daily among us by people of all ranks and conditions.

This shrub, which seems to be a species of myrtle, seldom grows beyond six or seven feet in height. It thrives best in a gravelly soil, and is usually planted in rows upon little hills, about three or four feet distant from each other. Its leaves are long, narrow, tapering to a point; and indented, like rose or sweet-brier leaves. The shrub is an evergreen, and bears a small fruit, containing several round blackish seeds, about the size of a large pea, but scarcely above one in a hundred comes to perfection. By these seeds the plant is propagated, nine or ten of them being put into a hole together; and the shrubs thence arising are afterwards transplanted into proper ground. They thrive best with a southern aspect, and yield the best tea; but there is a sort that grows without cultivation, which, though less valuable, often serves the poorer class of people.

The Chinese know nothing of "Imperial" Tea, and several other names given by our puffing tea-dealers: the kinds of tea which differ in appearance, are allowed to be the products of the same plant, varying only in colour and fragrance according to the soil, time of gathering, and the method of preparation.

The Bohea Tea chiefly differs from the green by its being gathered six or seven weeks sooner, when the plant is in full bloom, and the leaves full of juice, and contracts a different colour, taste, and virtue. The bohea tea is gathered the beginning of March; the bing in April; and the singlo, or green, in May or June. During all the months of gathering, the leaves on the top of the shrub are the finest and dearest, and are gradually courser towards the bottom of the plant.

The Bohea is first dried in the shade, and afterwards exposed to the heat of the sun; the Green is dried in the sun as soon as gathered; and both are afterwards convolved or shrivelled up in earthen pans over a slow fire.

It is very rare to find tea perfectly pure, the Chinese themselves generally mixing other leaves with it to increase the quantity; though the price among them is usually three-pence a pound, and never exceeds nine-pence.

Bohea tea, if good, is all of a dark colour, crisp, and dry, and has a fine smell: Green tea is also to be chosen by its crispness, fragrancy, and light colour, with a blueish cast; for it is not good if any of the leaves appear dark or brown. The essential qualities of tea consist in its fragrant and volatile parts.

Tea was introduced into Europe in the year 1610, by the Dutch East India Company. In 1666, it was sold in London at sixty shillings a pound.

By the time the Pupil shall have reached this part of the work, it is assumed that he will have acquired the habits of correct enunciation, graceful deportment, facility of discrimination, and tenacity of memory. If the preceding narratives, descriptions, and others of similar character, have been patiently and perseveringly considered, and delivered, before other persons, it may reasonably be hoped, that he has dismissed childish diffidence, and has now acquired that share of modest confidence which will enable him respectfully to look persons in the face, and state his sentiments upon any subject he understands. But let not youth imagine that pertness, conceit, or an impudent stare will assist them in becoming good speakers. There is a medium between awkward bashfulness and unblushing effrontery, at which they are to aim. Neither should the facility with which they may become enabled to express them

selves, induce a forgetfulness of that decorum which enjoins young people to silence, unless their opinion be required; a forward manner and a chattering tongue are still to be avoided and contemned.

With these remarks, let us now proceed to the art of speaking extempore.

It should be premised, that in all the following exercises, great attention should be paid to the articulation, emphasis, tones, pauses, &c.; but that in the earlier ones, and until the pupil shall arrive at the discussion of a subject, no particular gesture need be used. He will stand firmly, steadily and gracefully, according to the directions given in the preceding rules.

In the succeeding exercises, it will be necessary to observe the follow rules:

RULE 1. Avoid the affectation of inflated or unusual expressions; use such words only as are natural and familiar.

2. Do not hesitate or stammer, but speak openly and plainly what first occurs. Do not go back to correct words: attention and practice will gradually produce correct as well as graceful language.

A man with easy elocution, good sense, and plain language, will seldom be heard without patience and pleasure. A man with graceful enunciation and elaborate phraseology, but without sound reason, will please few and convince none.

3. When a subject is proposed for discussion, observe whether it be a simple subject; as "honour-friendship -flattery," &c.; or a general proposition, as "delays are dangerous""riches have wings"-" he is not rich who desires more;" or a question admitting as an answer only a simple affirmation or negative, as "is he guilty or not guilty of murder?"-" is eloquence beneficial?"- "is the proposed measure likely to be

advantageous?"

4. If the subject proposed be, what has been termed a simple subject, (see Grammar, verse 166, and Ex.) begin by a clear and correct definition of it.

For this purpose, observe carefully the following directions; for the student must not proceed until he can readily define any simple subject which may be proposed to him.

5. Let the definition be clear and plain, having no superfluity of words.

6. Let the definition be peculiar to the thing defined, and agree to that alone.

The following are examples of definition (and see Grammar 167.)

Flattery,
Justice,

Affectation,

Contempt,
History,

false praise.

the principle of rendering to every one his right.

the assumption of false manners.

a feeling of disgust and anger.

the continued account of public events.

7. As the object of all reasoning is to prove the truth of some opinion, or as it is called, judgment (see Gram. ver. 163), observe what your own opinion is, not only that it is good or bad, desirable or not, but that it is so in some particular manner.

8. If the discussion be intended for practical utility, an inference, or practical application, may be raised from the judgment. (ver. 170.)

Ex. Subject.

Practical application.

Flattery,

should be despised.