THE ISLAND OF SICILY.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean sea, comprising, with the smaller islands appertaining to it, a territory of 500 square miles. It is separated from the continent of Italy by the Straits of Messina, a frith about a mile in breadth. Sicily was called Sikilia by the Greeks, and more anciently Trinacria or Triapetra, from its three principal promontories or triangular shape. Some endeavour to persuade that Sicily originally formed a part of the mainland of Italy, and was isolated by the effects of an earthquake, or thro' the violence of the waves. Others again enjoy the hypothesis, that this famous island gradually sprung up from the deep with the primeval eruption of the volcanic Etna. The north-eastern promontory, which is flat and sandy, was formerly known by the name of Pelorum, and is now called Capo del Faro; the promontory to the south-east Pachinus, now Capo Passero; that to the west Lilybaum, now Capo di Boco. Along the northern coast runs a chain of mountains called Nebrodes, from a branch of which stretching south, opposite the eastern shore, towers the lofty Etna. Other branches of the same chain in the interior bear the name of Hebræi; of these the highest peak rises 3624 feet above the level of the sea, and is called Giulinano. The coast of Sicily is furnished with numerous bays, which might be converted into excellent harbours by a commercial people. Snow remains but a short time on the mountains, and the scarcity of rain is partially compensated by the frequent and copious dews, which fertilize the island and render it very productive.

The heat in summer yaries from 80 to 90 degrees of Fahrenheit, but the surrounding sea and several small rivers in the island concur considerably to render the atmosphere temperately cool.

On account of its remarkable fertility Sicily was formerly considered the granary of Italy; and at present, tho' the cultivation of the soil is so much neglected, that it is often suffered to remain untilled for three or four years, the produce averages 100 to 120 fold. The chief products are corn,

rice, pulse, flax, wine, oil, (of an inferior quality), silk, carroobs, manna, (sometimes to the yearly amount of 130,000 dollars), saffron, tobacco, cotton, &c. Its principal trees are the oak, chestnut, and cork-oak.

Fish abounds in the surrounding sea, and extensive fishing is carried on by the natives. Tho' no care whatever is taken to improve the breed of mules and horses, they are tolerably good, and asses are found in abundance. The land contains plenty of iron, copper, lead, and quicksilver, which might yield a vast revenue, but only the salt and sulphur mines are worked. Industry is at a very low ebb, and good tradesmen are so scarce, that even in the largest towns there are many deficiencies which cannot be supplied. The commerce of the island is very limited, notwithstanding its many advantages for trade, especially in the security of its numerous harbours. The total want of roads thro' the interior of this beautiful country is an evil greatly to be deplored; the only one existing is that from Catania to Messina and Palermo. On account of this deficiency, the most valuable timber is left to decay on the spot which gave it birth, the cork-oak in vain holds out its riches, in vain do the most luscious and precious fruits blossom and thrive in the interior; for the poor farmer, even did he earnestly long to better his condition and to enrich his store, is doomed to disappointment, because his feeble mules cannot transport the produce of his labour to the sea-coast for exportation. The badness of the public roads renders waggons entirely useless, and only a few wretched carts are to be met with in the vicinity of the large

towns.

The total number of inhabitants is estimated at 1,720,000;* of these there are no less than 26,204 priests, 11,000 monks, and 10,000 nuns!

The language of the natives is a dialect of the Italian, not peculiarly sweet in sound.

In former times Syracuse alone contained 1,200,000 souls. The present population gives about 3000 individuals to a square mile. Malta gives 15,000 to an equal extent of territory.

The females are in general a little fairer than the healthy males, and there are sometimes even beauties to be met with among them. The Sicilians are a kind, active, and hospitable race of people, and peculiarly simple in their habits of living. With the exception of two universities, at Palermo and Messina, there are scarcely any institutions for popular education. Some years ago five printing-offices existed on the island, from which only fifty-six publications were issued in the course of one year. The numerous nobility are very wealthy; the clergy are in affluent and easy circumstances; but the generality of the people and wretched. are poor

The parliament consists of two Houses, which have a right of voting when new taxes are to be levied. These meet but once in three years. The House of Peers is composed of 58 ecclesiastics and 127 nobles; the other house consists of 154 deputies

from the 23 districts and from the towns. The government is the Neapolitan, and the king is generally represented by a member of the Royal Family assisted by one of the ministers. The laws are as good or the same as those of Naples. The king is the supreme bishop, and is therefore styled Beatissimo Padre. Ecclesiastics have a separate jurisdiction of their own.

describes a contemplative man as findingTongues in trees-books in running brooks, Sermons in stones-and good in everything. Accustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and uninquiring eye perceives neither novelty nor beauty, he walks in the midst of wonders; every object which falls in his way elucidates some principle, affords some instruction, and impresses him with a sense of harmony and order. Nor is it a mere passive pleasure which is thus communicated. A thousand subjects of inquiry are continually arising in his mind, which keep his faculties in constant exercise, and his thoughts perpetually on the wing, so that lassitude is excluded from his life, and that craving after artificial excitement and dissipation of mind, which leads so many pursuits, is altogether eradicated from his into frivolous, unworthy, and destructive

bosom.

It is not one of the least advantages of these pursuits, which, however, they possess in common with every class of intellectual pleasures, that they are altogether independent of external circumstances, and are to be enjoyed in every situation in which a man can be placed in life. The highest degrees of worldly prosperity are so far from being incompatible with them, that they supply additional advantages for their pursuit, and that sort of fresh and renewed re

Districts.

(On a future occasion we hope to present our readers with a general outline of the history of Sicily.)

TASTE FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY.

A MIND which has once imbibed a taste for scientific inquiry, and has learnt the habit of applying its principles readily to the cases which occur, has within itself an inexhaustible source of pure and exciting contemplations: one would think that Shakspeare had such a mind in view, when he

the peculiar pre-eminence which they possess over the pleasures of sense in their capability of unlimited increase and continual repetition, without satiety and distaste. They may be enjoyed too in the intervals of the most active business; and the calm and dispassionate interest with which they fill the mind, renders them a most delightful retreat from the agitations and dissensions of the world, and from the conflict of passions, prejudices, and interests, in which the man of business finds himself continually involved.-SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.

BETHLEHEM.

After descending the vale which surrounds Jerusalem on the south-west, the road to Bethlehem crosses the supposed valley of Rephaim (See 2 Sam. v. 18.) which is about two miles in extent, enclosed by two hills, that to the right bearing evident traces of terracing, though now exhibiting a very rugged surface. On this eminence is a considerable village, inhabited entirely by Christians, and called Beit-Giala. To the To the left, a little further on, stands the Greek convent of Mar Elias, said to be erected over the spot whence the prophet Elijah ascended up to heaven. Beyond this, the country presents a very barren and desolate appearance; the view to the right extends but a few miles, and is terminated by the rising hills which overlook the plains of Sharon to the west; to the left, in the distance, are seen the dark mountains of Moab, towering to the clouds, seeming to form a gigantic wall for the security and defence of the Promised Land. About one mile from Mar Elias is the grave of Ra chel, over which is erected a sheikh,-a small circular building with a cupola, such as the Mohammedans usually raise over the burial-places of their reputed saints. From this one road branches off to Bethlehem, and another towards Hebron, by the Boorak or Pools of Solomon.

There is nothing peculiarly interesting in the situation of Bethlehem, the best view of the village is from the fertile valley which skirts it on the south, from whence it appears crowning the brow of a steep hill, the sides of which are crowded with rubbish. The valley is covered with olive trees, and the rising ground to the summit of the surrounding hills is thickly planted with vineyards, in each of which rises a small round watch-tower, such as I had not seen in any other part of Palestine. The only building worth notice in Bethlehem is the Monastery of St. Giovanni, an immense building, strongly fortified with massy walls, and divided amongst the monks of the Latin, Greek and Armenian churches. I went to the Latin part of the convent, and was kindly welcomed by a Maltese monk, with whom I had been

acquainted in Malta, and who was assiduous in his attentions towards me during my stay in the village. The convent contains two churches, the first on entering the small wicket-gate which affords admittance within the outer walls, belongs to the Greeks and Armenians, and is said to owe its erection to the piety of the Empress Helena. It is of considerable size, divided into aisles by forty-eight marble pillars of the Corinthian order, two rows of twelve on each side, and further decorated with rude carvings of saints. The church of Santa Catarina, occupies another wing of the building, and belongs exclusively to the Latins. This is a spacious and neat place of worship, and forms quite a contrast to that first described. From this church we descended by fifteen stairs into a subterranean passage, cut in the solid rock, containing, besides the small chapel of the Nativity, two other grottos of lesser dimensions, in each of which stands a rude altar of stone. My guide informed me that one of these apartments was that in which St. Jerome passed a great part of his life, and in which he translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Latin. The other grotto is said to have been the burial place of the Innocents, and at a later period to have afforded also a grave for St. Jerome.

On entering the Chapel of the Nativity, which is contiguous to the two last mentioned, I could not withhold reflecting on the stupendous events which are connected with the Saviour's birth. And is this indeed the place, thought I to myself, in which the Deity became incarnate, and in which he first appeared among mortals as their God and their Redeemer? Was it here that Mary gave birth to Him whom the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain? Was it near this spot that the angelic host, leaving the choir of the Eternal, sang the song of triumph, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will towards man?" Incomprehensible mystery! consoling truth! unaffected by the difficulty of determining whether or not this was the precise spot of the Saviour's first advent; a truth, a fact, which has been the salvation