of the bulk of the globe we inhabit; for it is the only body we can use as a standard of comparison to guide the mind in its conceptions, when it roams abroad to other regions of material existence. And, from what has been now stated, it appears, that we have no adequate conception of a magnitude of so vast an extent; or, at least, that the mind cannot, in any one instant, form to itself a distinct and comprehensive idea of it, in any measure corresponding to the reality.

Hitherto, then, we have fixed only on a determinate magnitude on a scale of a few inches, as it were, in order to assist us in our measurement and conception of magnitudes still more august and astonishing. When we contemplate, by the light of science, those magnificent globes which float around us, in the concave of the sky, the earth, with all its sublime scenery, stupendous as it is, dwindles into an inconsiderable ball. If we pass from our globe to some of the other bodies of the planetary system, we shall find that one of these stupendous orbs is more than 900 times the size of our world, and encircled with a ring 200,000 miles in diameter, which would nearly reach from the earth to the moon, and would enclose within its vast circumference, several hundreds of worlds as large as ours. Another of these planetary bodies, which appears to the vulgar eye only as a brilliant speck on the vault of heaven, is found to be of such a size, that it would require 1,400 globes of the bulk of the earth to form one equal to it in dimensions. The whole of the bodies which compose the solar system, (without taking the sun and the comets into account,) contains a mass of matter 2,500 times greater than that of the earth. The sun himself is 520 times larger than all the planetary globes taken together; and one million, three hundred thousand times larger than the terraqueous globe. This is one of the most glorious and magnificent visible objects, which either. the eye, or the imagination can contemplate; especially when we consider, what perpetual, and incomprehensible, and powerful influence he exerts, what warmth, and beauty, and activity, he diffuses, not only on the globe we inhabit, but over the more extensive regions of surrounding worlds. His energy extends to the ut

most limits of the planetary system--to the planet Her schel, which revolves at the distance of 1,800 millions of miles from his surface, and there he dispenses light, and colour, and comfort, to all the beings connected with that far-distant orb, and to all the moons which roll around it.

Here the imagination begins to be overpowered and bewildered in its conceptions of magnitude, when it has advanced scarcely a single step in its excursions through the material world: For it is highly probable that all the matter contained within the limits of the solar system, incomprehensible as its magnitude appears, bears a smaller proportion to the whole mass of the material universe, than a single grain of sand to all the particles of matter contained in the body of the sun and his attending planets.

(To be continued.)

THE ANCIENT AND MODERN HISTORY OF

NATIONS.

OF THE Fourth, or ROMAN MONARCHY.

Although the fourth monarchy commences with the destruction or subjugation to the Roman power, of the four distinct kingdoms into which the vast empire of Alexander was divided at his death, yet it will be necessary, as introductory to that period of history, to give a sketch of the rise and progress of Roman glory.

Rome, the capital of the Roman empire, is situated on the banks of the river Tiber. This city, so celebrated, was founded about the year 753 B. C. by Romulus. In its original state it was but a small castle on the summit of the Palatine Mountain; and to increase his followers and adherents, the founder offered protection and an asylum to every criminal who, to avoid the punishment due to their offences, were obliged to leave their native country. From such an assemblage a numerous body was soon collected; and, before the death of Romulus, they had covered with habitations the Palatine, Capitoline, Aventine, and Esquiline hills, toge ther with Mount Caelius, and Quirinalis. Such was the rise of Rome, which for the vastness of its power from these low beginnings, for the extent of its empire,

and its duration is certainly at present, and probably ever will be, the greatest object that universal history can exhibit. In the earlier part of their history the vir tues of temperance, valor, strict discipline, emulation, and, among themselves at least, of rigid justice, were indispensably necessary to the very existence of the state; and in no instance are the advantages which accrue to a people from the adherence to these rules so clearly demonstrated as in the present.

For the sake of order we shall divide the Roman history into three distinct periods; the first is that in which the sovereign power resided in kings; the second while it was lodged in consuls; and the third when it was subject to the sway of emperors.

Romulus, the founder, was the first monarch also of Rome; and the commencement of his reign may be considered as coeval with the building of the city, by the inhabitants of which he was elected king, and acknowledged as the chief of their religion, sovereign magistrate of the city, and general of the army. A guard was appointed to attend upon his person; and twelve men armed with axes, tied up in a bundle of rods, preceded him wherever he went; these were the executioners of the law, and served to impress upon his new subjects an idea of his supreme power. Still, however, the authority delegated to him was under great restrictions, and subject, in many respects, to the control of the senate, an assembly composed of an hundred of the principal citizens of Rome, whose age, wisdom, or valor, gave them a natural authority over their fellow citizens.

In the senate was transacted all the important business of the state, the king himself presiding; but every question was determined by a majority of voices. From the supposed paternal affection which the senators had for the people they were called fathers, and their de scendants patricians. To the patricians belonged all the principal offices of the state, as well as of the priesthood, to which they were appointed by the senate and the people, while the lower ranks of citizens could expect only to reap advantages from their valor in war, or their assiduity in agriculture.

The plebeians assumed to themselves the power of

authorizing and confirming by their suffrages the laws passed by the senate. Every plebeian was permitted to choose one of the senators for a patron, who was to assist him at all times with his advice, to plead his cause before the magistrate, and to rescue him from all kinds of oppression. On the other hand, the client attached himself to the interests of his patron, assisting him, if poor, to portion his daughters, to pay his debts, or his ransom, if taken prisoner; he was bound to follow him on every service of danger; to give him his suffrage, if he offered himself as candidate for any office; and he was prohibited from giving testimony in a court of justice, whenever his evidence affected the interest of his patron. These reciprocal duties were held so sacred, that those who violated them were ever after held infamous, and excluded from the protection of the laws.

Romulus was very careful in establishing religious ceremonies in his new government, and in selecting proper persons to administer in them. To these he had recourse for advice under any embarrassments in the management of public affairs; and though it cannot be supposed that the priests would oppose the projects of their sovereign, yet their pretended sanction of his plans rendered them popular among all classes of the citizens. To husbands and fathers he gave almost unlimited powers; the former might divorce, and even put to death their wives, with the consent of their relations, in case they were detected in certain grimes. The father had an entire control over his children, and might imprison, or even sell them as slaves, at any time of their lives. To his public enemies Romulus was much more kind : his subjects were prohibited from killing or selling them after they had surrendered: his ambition aimed at diminishing the number of his enemies by making them his friends.

(To be continued.)

A kind attention to strangers is very grateful to them, yet few who have not been strangers, are sensible of its importance, and of those who have, too many of them when at home, are negligent of that duty.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH. TROY N. Y.

This edifice was erected in 1827-8, by the Episcopal Society of Troy, and is one of the best specimens of the Gothic style of architecture in the United States. The walls are of a dark-coloured lime-stone, hammered and laid in mortar. The main body of the building is 103 by 70 feet. At the west end, a tower projects 12 feet, and is 100 feet in height. The basement is 9 feet high, and the walls of the main building rise 38 feet above it. There are five windows on each side, and three on each end; the large window over the altar is 40 by 20 feet. The galleries and ceiling are supported by clustered columns. The wood work of the building is painted in excellent imitation of oak. There are 140 pews on the lower floor, and 70 in the galleries. The organ is a fine toned and powerful instrument. Rev. DAVID BUTLER is the Rector of the church.

The church, which is very advantageously located