knowledge, the diversified operations of benevolence, the concurrence of the Provi. dence and grace of God in reference to the heathen world, the triumphs of religious freedom, the growth of popery in this country, the rapid and extensive progress of infidel opinions, and the indifference, lukewarmness, and worldly spirit of those who profess the gospel." In this enumeration we have four items that wear a favourable aspect, and three that assail us with their frowns. In regard to the latter class, we think the author's fears are more prominent than the presumed facts on which they are founded; and perhaps in every age that has elapsed from the commencement of the Christian era to the present hour, human ingenuity might always have found prognostics of "the signs of the times."

8. Cottage Poetry, by the Author of Old Friends in a New Dress, &c., (Elder and Co., London,) has in it something very attractive for children. The style, the metre, the fable, are all familiar and pleasing, and we cannot doubt that they will be read with much interest by all of tender years, for whose use they are designed. "Old Friends in a New Dress" we reviewed some months since, and spoke favourably of the performance. In this pamphlet there is a supplement to the above, containing twelve fables, which fairly support the character of the work, for which this may be considered as a suitable companion.

9. The Practice of Cookery adapted to the business, of every-day Life, by Mrs. Dalgairns, (Simpkin, London,) seems suited for persons within the range of decent mediocrity. It contains 1434 receipts, and to each chapter is prefixed some very useful observations, that may be considered as of universal application. We find, however, in looking over Mrs. Dalgairn's bill of fair, that many dishes are peculiar to Scotland. This chiefly arises from the local productions of its land and waters; but no other reason appears, why the system recommended should not submit to the test of experiment on this side of the Tweed. Yet, after all, not being very conversant with the science of cookery, and leaving this book to the judgment of housewives and ers, we should rejoice if procure which she inviting

us how to

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on subjects furnished by the obvious and simple phenomena of nature. Mr. Bowles is well known at Parnassus, and his kind reception there, in some of its more elevated apartments, will be his passport with the public on the present occasion. Many, however, will admire, for their simplicity, the articles in the present tract, who know nothing of his connexion with fame,

11. A Sermon occasioned by the Death of the Rev. Robert Smith, late of Nottingham, by J. Jarrom, (Wightman, London,) embodies the common topics which every preacher knows how to touch, on such melancholy occasions, but not, like Mr. Jarrom, how to manage with good effect. No small portion of this discourse is an elogium on the value and importance of the ministerial character. The picture is faithfully drawn, and in its various features we have no doubt that those who were acquainted with the deceased, will find a striking likeness.

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12. The Elgin Literary Magazine, No. L., (Elder, London,) contains several interesting articles, which give it a character, from which the conductors will do well to see that the future numbers do not degenerate.

13. A Help to the Private and Domestic Reading of the Holy Scriptures, &c., by J. Leifchild, (Nisbet, London,) is a little volume containing much useful matter, not only for youth, but for many advanced to mature years. It begins with the duty of reading the Scriptures, passes on to their inspiration, offers remarks on the symbolical language of prophecy, and on the collection of the sacred books of the Old Testament, gives particular directions for the private reading of the inspired volume, furnishes a digest of the sacred books, and an epitome of the Jewish history, from the times of the Old Testament, to the birth of Christ, whose life follows; rangement of the books of the New Testament, and finally explains various matters referred to in the Bible On all these topics, this little volume is replete with luminous information. weld

enters into an

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without suffering the pure spirit of the whole to evaporate through the chasms he had made. The price being moderate, it will be rendered accessible to many who cannot afford to purchase the larger volume. 15, The First Class Book, for Reading, Spelling, and Catechising, (Sunday Union School, London,) is solely for the of children. The plan is novel, but of great promise, as every lesson, though but of few words, contains within itself a valuable precept.

16. Scripture Characters, and Subjects Versified, &c. Nos. 1. & II., by R. Tobit, (Bennett, London,) is designed for children, to whose capacities the humble verse is adapted.

17. Cottage Similes, or Poems designed for those in humble Life, by the Author of "The Female Missionary Advocate," (Holdsworth, London,) conduct us through many pleasing scenes, that are either of every-day occurrence, or familiar to every observer. The lines are harmonious; but the thoughts are not elevated. Simplicity is the characteristic of the language.

18. The Sailor, or the Coquet Cottage, and other Poems, by William Gibson, (Strange, London,) has rather a delusive title; but when it is known that Coquet here means a small river in Northumberland, and not a deceitful woman, the book assumes its genuine character. The principal poem contains a narrative that would have been more interesting had it been confined within a narrower compass. The author, however, knows how to make the most of his materials, and we give him credit for his parsimonious ingenuity in expending them. With the ladies of Parnassus he is at present no great favourite, though they have not forbidden him to approach their territories, and the time may come when they will be more familiar.

19. The Woman of Shunem, a Dramatic Sketch: Patmos, a Fragment; and other Poems, by James Edmeston, (Goode, London,) appear before us in a decent garb; but we are chiefly interested in knowing something of the characters who wear it. The dramatic sketch is founded upon the incident recorded in the fourth chapter of the second book of Kings, and delineates with taste and feeling the circumstances which may be supposed to arise from the death of the child, and his miraculous restoration to life by the instrumentality of Elisha. Patmos partakes more of the romantic character than the preceding; but its name forbids us to say that any outrage is committed on probability. Prophecy naturally hurries us into

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scenes of futurity, and conducts us through untrodden paths. Into these regions the author enters; but in most of his leading descriptions he takes revelation for his guide. The other poems are chiefly on Scripture subjects; but quite miscellaneous. On the whole, the poetry is respectable, but not of the highest order.

20. A Memento for the Afflicted, by Barzillai Quaife, (Nisbet, London,) is exclusively religious in its character, tendency, and expression; and we fully credit the author when he says, that "the following pages were written in very deep affliction," as scarcely any substitute could have imitated its dictates. It is a work abounding with accurate delineations and wholesome advice. In describing the advan tages of affliction, and its peculiar fruits, in giving directions for the improvement of these painful visitations, and in expatiating on the consolation to be experienced during their continuance, and from their effects, he is quite at home. We envy not the state of that man, who can soberly read through this book, and go away unimproved.

ASTRONOMICAL OCCURRENCES FOR
AUGUST, 1829.

THE Sun and Saturn are in conjunction on the 1st, at 45 minutes past eleven in the morning, in the 8th degree of Leo; the time elapsed since their last conjunction is 380 days, 17 hours, and 45 minutes. Saturn is now at his greatest distance from the earth, in consequence of being situated beyond the sun. He may probably be detected by the expert observer towards the close of the month in the eastern hemisphere, as the Sun advancing in his journey through the ecliptic, rises later than the planet every morning. The moon passes Venus at 20 minutes past 12 at noon on this day.

The principal objects in the heavens that will attract the attention of the celestial observer, on the evening of the 1st at nine o'clock, are in the constellation Ursa Major, which occupies the north-west portion of the heavens, nearly mid way between the horizon and the zenith. There are seven principal stars in this constellation, four forming an irregular square, and the remaining three a circle projecting from the north-eastern of the above-named four. The brightest of the seven, denominated Dubhe, is situated at the north-western corner of the square; the star south of this is marked 3. The two eastern are marked and, the former star being southern

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most: the three stars forming a curve, are called the tail of the Great Bear, and are known by the following names: that nearest the square is called Alioth, the middle one Mizar, the small star near it being called Alcor; and the star in the extremity of the curve Benetnasch; these stars form but a small portion of the constellation, which is one of the most extensive in the heavens. Bootes may be found by draw ing a line from Mizar through Benetnasch, and continued to four times their distance, which will terminate in a star of the third magnitude, called Mirac. Below this star is observed Arcturus, which is the principal star in the constellation; a line drawn from this star through Mirac, and continued to the distance of these stars, will direct the observer to one of the third magnitude, marked d, which is half-way between a star in the head of Bootes, marked ß, and one of the second magnitude in the constellation Corona Borealis, named Gemma. This star is nearly mid-way between Bootii, and a small cluster of stars in the head of the constellation Serpens; and a line drawn from the above-mentioned star through the cluster, and continued to the horizon, will pass through Antares, the red star in the heart of Scorpio. Above this star is noticed the noble planet Jupiter, which is situated in 5 degrees 24 minutes of Sagittarius, and has 35 minutes of north latitude; he forms the summit of an isosceles triangle with Antares and ẞ Scorpionis; he is nearly midway between and g Ophiuchi, and does not alter this position materially during the month, the prin cipal feature in his course being his motion toward Ophiuchi, which is situated to the east of him. Nearly overhead is the bright star Lyra, and exactly in the zenith is observed the third star of the Dragon. A line drawn from this star through Lyra, and continued to the horizon, will pass through Atair, the principal star in the Eagle, and a and B in the head of Capri

cornus.For

The Moon arrives at the apogean point of her orbit on the 3d, and will be observed in the evening near ẞ Virginis: she is directing her course to Spica, which is noticed some distance to the east of her. Mercury crosses the ecliptic in his ascending node on this day. On the 4th the Moon crosses the ecliptic in her ascending node, and is observed in the evening to the south of ya Virginis. On the evening of the 5th, she is seen nearer Spica, and after passing this star, she directs her course to the planet Jupiter, now considerably to the least of her On the 7th,

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the moon is dichotomized at 13 minutes past 10 in the evening, in the 14th degree of Scorpio; and may be observed between a and B Libra. Mercury is in perihelio on this day. On the evening of the 9th, the moon is noticed to have passed Jupiter, the conjunction having taken place at o'clock in the afternoon. After progressing through the constellations Sagittarius and Capricornus, she arrives at that part of her orbit on the 14th at 26 minutes past 10 in the evening, that is exactly opposite the earth, which is situated in the 21st degree of Aquarius; on the following day she is in perigee.

On the 19th, at 45 minutes past 3 ill the morning, the Sun and Mars are in conjunction in the 25th degree of Leo On the 20th is a visible eclipse of Jupiter's first satellite, which occurs at 4 minutes 11 seconds past 9 in the evening. At 15 minutes past 12 the same night, Mercury passes the Sun at his superior conjunction/

The Moon enters her last quarter Bon the 21st at 35 minutes past 11 in the afternoon, in the 28th degree of Taurus, D2

The Sun enters the sign Virgo on the 23d, at 33 minutes past 11 in the morn ing. He rises on this day at 57 minutes past 4 in the morning, and sets at 3 minutes past 7: his declination is 11 degrees 29 minutes north; his semi-diameter 15 minutes, 51 seconds, and 3-tenths; the time that his semi-diameter passes the meridian 1 minute, 4 seconds, and 8 tenths; and his hourly motion in space, 2 minutes, 24 seconds, and 7 tenths.

On the 27th, at 8 in the morning, the Moon passes the planet Saturn; she is in conjunction with Mars on the 29th, at 49 minutes past 1 in the morning, and at 55 minutes past 8 the same morning, she is new in the 4th degree of Virgo: she passes Mercury on the 30th, at 30 minutes past 4 in the morning, is in apogee on the same day, and is in conjunction with Venus at 30 minutes past 12 at night, on ng. Dodalg

the 31st.

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The seasons of special kindness, protection, and forbearance, which they repaid with ingratitude, by rebellion, and idolatry. The second is,The periods of His judgments fore their crimes, wherein they were dispersed throughout the nations of the world; amongst whom they were treated with great severity, and oppression. The third is,--The seasons of penitence, when they were restored to His grace and favour, and to their national splendour, in pros périty and peace. And on occasions of the latter description, an awful visitation of Divine judgments took place upon these Gentiles, who, during their dispersions, afflicted and oppressed His people. The prophecies which refer to the splendid event of a future restoration of Israel, who, as a whole and great nation, are now la bouring under the longest and most severe dispersion that people ever suffered in any age, are equally true with the prophecies which referred to their former restoration; and notwithstanding the credulity of thousands, who by spiritualizing wrest the scriptures, the latter event will as assuredly take place in due time, as the former did. One of the most eminent stations which the Hebrews have held in the dealings of God with this lapsed world, has been, and yet is, the testimony they are appointed to bear to the universal sovereignty of the Messiah; heretofore by their prosperity, and now by their adversity. They received, they kept in safety, and they yet preserve uncorrupted, as well amidst prosperity as adversity, the Word of God; while they fulfil the word of prophecy contained therein. In many passages of this Word, the return of the Messiah is noted for the benefit of the Jews, and in these passages, the Christians are described as being in a state of rebellion, not merely against the Messiah as a Priest, but against him as a King. Christians ought, there fore, to rejoice in the restoration of the Jews; because, when that event is accomplished, the Messiah will reign, as He anciently reigned upon the Mercy-seat, over all the earth. For these reasons, in particular, I call upon you who are present, as well as all others, to succour the distressed Hebrew nation."

There were present on this occasion, Lord Viscount Mandeville, the Hon. J. J. Strutt, Capt. G. Gambier, R. N., the Rev. JRees, the Rev. S. R. Maitland, the Hon. and Rev. Gerrard Noel, the Rev. E. Mannering, the Rev. H. M. Neile, John Tudor, Esq., D. Percival, Esq., Mr. H. Abra hams, and Mr. E. K. Simons, both of the Hebrew nation; who severally addressed

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That however feeble have hitherto been the efforts of this society, this meeting are grateful for prospects opened by the assistance of kind friends; and at the same time, feeling them yet very inadequate to the importance of the object, strongly recommend the formation of auxiliaries in the cities of London, Westminster, Bristol, Canterbury, Lincoln, Gloucester, Norwich, and York; and in the towns of Bury St. Edmunds, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northampton, Southampton, and Stamford, where the Jews have in former times been more especially plundered of their property, and persecuted even to death. & bar flood

That this meeting kindly acknowledge the exertions of the Philo-Judæan Ladies' Association on behalf of the Hebrew nation, and consider the establishment of Ladies' Auxiliary Associations in different parts of the kingdom, after the example of that at Clapham, highly desirable, and essential to the interests of the Hebrew female population of scottel

That this meeting, sensible of the injuries inflicted on the Hebrew nation throughout the world, but more especially of those perpetrated in our own country, is desirous of publicly confessing how greatly we have ourselves, and our fathers before us, sinned in this matter. 2 b 1269 90

The chairman then rose, and, to his introductory observations, added va short but important monition to this effect."I shall now close the business of the day, by calling upon you to ascribe glory to God to whom alone glory is due, now and evermore. I would, however, first state, that letters have been received from the Rev. Mr. Leeves, Dr. Steinkopff, dand the Rev. Mr. Marsh, of Colchester, with subscriptions, expressing their attachment to this society. It will read one sentence from the letter of the Rev. Mr. Marsh, a gentleman who, you well know, has long paid great attention to the Hebrew nation, and particularly to their conversion. The passage to which I allude, states as follows.

None of us sufficiently feel the revealed truth, that God will requite every injury done to the Jews, and every favour be stowed upon them he will notice. Can

not the nation, in these times of benevolence and liberalism, be stirred up to shew them some favour? Lift up your voice, and all London, at least, will hear-shall hear-must hear, or be punished."

The whole assembly then united in singing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow;" &c. &c. after which they deliberately retired; deeply impressed, and evidently animated with delight, at the proceedings of the day.

GLEANINGS.

The New Year in China -The Chinese make their new year commence on the new moon nearest to the time when the sun's place is in the 15th degree of Aquarius. It is the greatest festival observed in the empire, Both the government and the people, rich and poor, take a longer or shorter respite from their cares and their labours at the new year. The last day of the old year is an anxious time to all debtors and creditors, for it is the great pay-day, and those who cannot pay are abused and insulted, and often have the furniture of their houses all smashed to pieces by their desperate creditors. On the 20th of the 12th moon, by an order from the Court, all the seals of office throughout the empire are locked up, and not opened till the 20th of the first moon. By this arrangement there are thirty days of rest from the ordinary official business of government. They attend, however, to extraordinary cases. During the last few days of the old year, the people perform various domestic rites. On one evening they sweep clean the furnace and the hearth, and worship the god of their domestic fires, On new year's eve they perfume hot water with the leaves of wongpe and pumelo trees, and hathe in it. At midnight they arise and dress in the best clothes and caps they can procure; then, towards heaven, kneel down and perform the great imperial ceremony of knocking the forehead on the ground thrice three times. Next they illuminate as splendidly as they can, and pray for felicity towards some domestic idol. Then they visit all the gods in the surrounding temples, burn candles, incense, gilt paper, make bows, and prostrate pray. These services to the gods being finished, they sally forth about day-light in all directions to visit friends and neighbours, leaving a red paper card at each house: some stay at home to receive visitors. In the house, sons and daughters, servants and slaves, all dress and appear before the heads of the family, to congratulate them on the new year. After new year's day, drinking and carousing, visiting and feasting, idleness and dissipation, continue for weeks. All shops are shut, and workmen idle for a longer or shorter period, according to the necessities or the habits of the several parties. It is in Canton generally a month before the business of life returns to its ordinary channel.- Extracts from Canton Journal,

Indian Notion of the Deluge.-Like most savage nations, the American Indians had a tradition concern. ing the universal deluge, and it is siugular how the human mind, in its natural state, is apt to account, by trivial and familiar causes, for great events. They said, that there once lived in an island a mighty cacique, who slew his son for conspiring against him. He afterwards collected his bones, picked and preserved them in a gourd, as was the custom of the natives with the relics of their friends. On a subse quent day, the cacique and his wife opened the gourd, to contemptate the bones of their son, when, to their astonishment, several fish, both great and small, leaped out. Upon this the cacique closed the gourd, and placed it on the top of his house, boasting that he had the sea shut up within it, and could have fish whenever he pleased. Four brothers, however, born at the same birth, and curious intermeddlers, hearing of this gourd, came during the absence of the cacique to peep into it. In their carelessness they suffered it to fall upon the ground, when it was dashed to pieces, and there issued forth a mighty flood, with dolphins and sharks, and great tumbling. whales, and the water spread until it overflowed the earth, and formed the ocean, leaving only the tops of the mountains uncovered, which are the present islands.ones 100

The Three Races of Men. The following luminous dissertation on an obscure subject was delivered in a solemn assembly of the Oneida Sachems." Before man existed, there were three great and good spirits, of whom one was superior to the other two, and is

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emphatically called the great spirit and the good spirit. At a certain time one exalted being said to one of the others, Make a man. He obeyed, and taking chalk, formed a paste of it, and moulding it into the human shape, infused into it the animating principle, and brought it to the great spirit. He, after surveying it, said, 'This is too white. He then directed the other to make a trial of his skill. Accordingly, taking charcoal, he pursued the same process, and brought the result to the great spirit: who, after surveying it, said, It is too black. Then said the great spirit, I will now try myself and taking red earth, he formed a human being in the same manner, surveyed it, and said, This is a pro per man.' These three, as you will naturally anticipate, were the original ancestors of all the white, black, and red men of our race."-Dwight's Travels in New York.

Use of Publicly Endowed Seminaries of Learning. A man without the aid of endowments will gain a livelihood by teaching any thing, that is of obvious application either to an act or calling, which is gainful. But for all that is arduous and sublime in mathematics, for the methods of higher calculus, the uses of which lie far remote, or are wholly invisible to the general understanding, for those lofty devices and inventions of analysis, by which we hope to accomplish solutions hitherto impracticable, or to unravel mysteries in nature, which have yet eluded the keenest search of philosophy-for all these, we contend, there is no such public request, as would foster the growth and production of them to the ex tent that is at all desirable. There have been thousauds in our land, the enamoured votaries of science, who never would have felt the generous inspiration, had it not been evoked by the eloquence and the demonstrations of an academic chair, attended by them not of free will, but in conformity to those qualifying statutes, which have been so much complained of. The latent spark that was in them would have still remained in its dormancy, had it not been for the kindred touch which developed it. Philo sophy at length became the mistress of their affections, but not till they were made to see her engaging mien, and to hear the music of her voice. It was a good thing to have conducted them, even though as it were by the hand of violence, along the way of her fascinations.-Dr. Chalmers, on Ecclesiastical Endow

ments.

Sale of Children by their Mothers-Malabar children are generally a very cheap commodity at Anjengo. At the end of the rainy season, when there was 110 particular scarcity in the interior country (says Mr. Forbes, in his Oriental Memoirs,) I purchased a boy and girl, of about eight or nine years of age, as a present to a lady at Bombay, for less money than a couple of pigs in England. I bought the young couple, laid in two months provision of rice and salt fish for their voyage, and gave to each of them four changes of cotton garments, all for the sum of twenty rupees, or fifty shillings. English humanity must not pass a censure on this transaction! It was a happy purchase for the children; they were relieved from hunger and nakedness, and sent to an amiable mistress, who brought them up tenderly, and, on leaving India, provided for their future comfort whereas, had I refused to buy them, they would assuredly have been sold to another, and probably have experienced a miserable bondage with some Portuguese Christian, whom we do not reckon among the most merciful task-masters.

A circumstance of this kind happened to myself. Sitting one morning in my veranda, a young fish woman brought a basket of mullets for sale; while the servant was disposing of them, she asked me to. purchase a fine boy, two years of age, then in her arms. On my upbraiding her for want of maternal affection, she replied, with a smile, that she expected another in a few weeks, and as she could not manage two, she made me the first offer of her boy, whom she would part with for a rupee. She came a few days afterwards, with a basket of fish, but had just sold her child to Signior Manuel Rodriguez, the Portuguese linguist; who, though a man of property and a Christian, had thought it necessary to lower the price to half a rupee. Thus did this young wo man, without remorse, dispose of an only child for fifteen-pence. Mi818

The Slave Trade.-According to accounts from Martinique, to the 9th of February, 1829, it appears that this abominable and nefarious traffic in humano beings is still carried on to a great extent in that!! colony. Seven vessels had arrived since the begin ing of November, in the following order: Nov. 4, 1828, one vessel with 385 slaves; Nov. 12, one vessel.pb 500 slaves; Nov. 25, one vessel, 212 slaves; Dec. 4s one vessel, 130 slaves; Dec. 10, one vessel, 200 slaves; Dec. 13, one vessel, 130 slaves; Jan. 5, 1829, one vessel, 114 slaves. Total, in less than three months, 1721 slaves. It appears that the point of