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the Romans, sacrificed two hundred children of the best families in Carthage, to appease the anger of Saturn, to which they attributed their misfortunes! How different to these cruelties is the benevolent spirit inculcated by the precepts of the Gospel! How opposite to the ceremonies of Superstition is the worship required by the true God!

"It is certain, however, that Superstition does not always appear arrayed in so terrible a garb; but in some other she is too frequently found, even among Christians: a foolish bigotry for particular tenets, and ridiculous apprehensions and scruples in religion, often plainly indicate her presence; but, though diversified in a thousand shapes, she is still the scourge and shame of mankind"."

Attested by Mrs. Batt, Governess.

THEME II. "On SUPERSTITION," by Miss Mary Russel, Hough.

"Of all the follies to which the human mind is subject, scarcely any are more detrimental to its happiness than Superstition. A superstitious person is not only fearful and over scrupulous concerning religion, but gives way to all kinds of imaginary evils.

66

If a

Many, who in other respects possess sound judg ment and brilliant talents, become victims to this folly; and in addition to the common and unavoidable calami ties of this life, are perpetually forming to themselves new ones, by the anticipation of future events. raven croaks, or an owl shrieks, they are terrified; when, perhaps, if any real misfortune happened, they would bear it with fortitude. An absurd belief in the agency of supernatural beings, inclines them to imagine that divination and witchcraft have a real influence on human events, therefore they brand every poor solitary old woman with the name of a witch, who is constantly shunned as the cause of ill luck to mortals, and they consequently practise a thousand fooleries to counteract her supposed spells. If they would reflect that no event happens but by the special decree of Providence, they would not suffer their minds to be

biassed by every trifling occurrence which they consider ominous. But since Superstition is generally the effect of ignorance, it will gradually cease as knowledge still more enlightens the globe. One who has a firm reliance on the goodness and protection of God, will always consider every event as a merciful dispensation; and, content in whatever state of life he is placed, will not endeavour to anticipate evils which cannot be avoided."

Attested by her Father.

Other THEMES, worthy of much commendation,
were sent by

Miss E. Willerton, aged 133, Spalding Seminary,
Attested by Miss S. and I. Hebard.

Miss M. Groves, aged 15, Spalding Seminary,
Attested as above.

Miss F. Ayre, aged 12 years, Spalding Seminary,
Attested as above.

Miss C. Holland, Spalding Seminary,
Attested as above.

ARTICLE V.

We have received two communications in this department. One, "Verses on Christmas Day;" another, "Lines on the King's Illness." We are sorry to observe that both these productions are much below the standard which our juvenile poetry has hitherto reached, and also very inferior to some former poems which we have received from the same young gentlemen. We shall not award any prize in the Poetical Department this number, and recommend our young friends to revise their respective productions, which we shall be very happy to receive in time for Number VII.

ARTICLE VI.

QUESTION I.

Answered by Master S. Aydon, Wakefield.

Put the transverse diameter=t, the conjugatec, and ,7854 n; then by the question (+2) x cn=40+ctn, and (c+2)x tn 50+ctn; or 2cn=40, and 2tn=50;

40

50

whence c=25,46473, and 31.83091.

2n

2t

Exactly as above were the answers sent by Masters H. Atkin, Academy, Sheffield; J. Bramall, Lingardswood; R. Chambers, Broughton; W. Harrison, Burton Pidsea; J. Macann, Long Sutton; R. Sharp and J. Wadsley, Surfleet; and S. Stead, Farnley.

QUESTION 2.

Answered by Master S. Stead and

R. Chambers.

By similar triangles ob 2 : oa= 10 od 6: o C = 30, and Cd= (30' 6') = 29.3938769; again, bd : ob CD: CA 36.74235 each side, also Cd: od :: CD: AD=7.34847, whence the base AB 14.69694..

Again by Masters Aydon and Harrison.

:

a

C

D

By sim. triangles ob od :: oa: oC=30, and CD= Co+oD=36; then, ab=(ao2-ob')=4/6, Then, ab : DC :: ob: AD=3√6, hence AB=6/6, and AC or BC=15/6.

True answers were also sent by Masters Atkin, Bramall, J. Macann, Sharp, Stead, and Wadsley.

QUESTION 3.

Answered by Masters R. Chambers and J. Wadsley. The solidity of the segment whose base diameter is 3 and alt. 1 is 4.0579, and the diam. of the sphere of 1.52+12 which the alt. of the segment cut off is 1, is =

3.25; now by sim. solids 4.0579: 3.253 :: 3948 : 33398.417285; whose cube root is 32.204 inches nearly, the diameter sought.

The same by Master Bramall.

Let 4x and 12r denote the diam. and alt. of the segment, and put 14 gal. 3948 in.a, and 5236=n; then (4x)+(6x)-4x=the diameter of, the sphere in terms of x. But by rule 2, page 153, Hutton's Mensuration, the solidity will be 496nxa, that is x=

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as required.

Answers were also sent by Masters Atkin, Aydon, Harrison, Macann, and Stead.

QUESTION 4.

Answered by Masters Atkin, Aydon, Bramall,
Harrison, Stead, and Wadsley.

Let ABC be half the triangle, and we have C
AB+BC 14 a, and ACX AB=37.14655=
b, by the question. Now AC=✅/(a2—2ax)
by Euc. 47.1. and x/(a'-2ax)=b, or by
reduction, and restoring the values of a and b,
x3-7x249.28096, from whence x=4.18145
or 5.1203; hence the base is 10.2406, or
8.3629, and the equal sides 8.8797 or 9.81855.

B

Answers were transmitted hy Masters Chambers and Macann. Master S. Stead, of Farnley, is requested to send for the silver medal.

PRIZE SUBJECTS

TO BE ANSWERED IN NO. VII.

ARTICLE VII.

THE best translation of Horace's Ode "Ad Grosphum," as inserted in No. V. by gentlemen not 17 years old, will be entitled to a PRIZE.

ARTICLE VIII.

As we have not awarded a Prize for the translation of the extract from "Cicero de Senectute," proposed in No. V. we again propose it, and the best translation by any young lady or gentleman not 16 years old, will be entitled to a PRIZE MEDAL.

ARTICLE IX.

THE best poetical translation of the following verses, by young ladies or gentlemen not 16 years old, will be entitled to a SILVER MEDAL.

LA BONNE MERE.

Vois la tendre mère entourée
Des enfans qu'elle a mis au jour!
Auprès d'eux son ame enivrée
Tressaille et de joie et d'amour.
Avec douceur sa main légère
En flattant l'une donne à son frère
Une étreinte contre son cœur;
L'autre sur les genoux s'élance;

Son bras l'aide; un pied qu'elle avance
Sert encore de siége à sa sœur.

Dans un regard, une caresse,
Dans leurs baisers, dans leurs soupirs,
Son cœur fait lire avec addresse
Tous leurs mille petits desirs.
Ils parlent tous; et sans rien dire,
Elle répond par un sourire
A leurs mots demi-prononcés.
Elle veut prendre un air sévère,
Et l'on voit combien elle est mere
Dans ses yeux même courroucés.
C'est ainsi que la Providence
Veille sur le sort des humains,
Et

que son amour leur dispense
Les trésors ouverts dans ses moins:
Les grands, les maitres de la terre,
Le pauvre en son humble chaumière

a

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