Dec
30
2011

The similarity in the trend

The similarity in the trend

for the decrease in force of the Northeasterly winTheTrade still prevails from the Equator to, and is very little changed in force since February; it is strongest on the western side of the BquarIsotherms of Air and Sea. of air and sea isotherms still holds, as also the fact that the sea remains aboutwarmer than the air.The mean temperature of both air and sea in the whole square has increased about o, since February, most in the southeastern part of the square: the greatest increase is between and, where it averages in the air andin the water. It seems worthy of notice that the greatest decrease of pressure has taken place where there was the greatest increase of temperature in air and sea.Current ArrowThe plain arrows show that Westerly currents prevail generally, and are strongest in the southern part of the squarThe dotted arrows show that Southeasterly currents prevail in the northeastern part of the square, where the wind is chiefly from the Northward, and not unfrequently from the Northwestwar There is a large amount of Southerly current betweenand WinThe remarks on wind show that theTrade acquired great force at timeClouds and Weather.Those on clouds and weather lead to very similar conclusions to those derived from January.Natural History.A very large number of stormy petrels nearly a hundred at once were seen in the doldrums betweenand andandGeneral.Red dust is met with to the northward of No landbirds or insects were seen, which may be well accounted for by the winds being so northerly on the eastern side of the squarBest Route across the Equator.In equare , lying to the North of SQUARE , we find the strongest winds to the westward of the Cape Verd Islands in March, and they are decidedly stronger on the western side of squareThe winds near Cape St. Roque in March are favourable for getting to the southward, so that an outwardbounder should keep well to the westward, and might safely cross the line in A homewardbounder should certainly keep to the westwarApril.Isobars and Wind ArrowIn April, pressure has generally increased abouti, and the isobars run more northeasterly and southwesterly in their directioThe greatest increase of .

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Dec
28
2011

The cost of this department

The cost of this department

1871, the “Shipping Gazette ” has published a daily wind chart for these islands, which has been drawn at the officTwo fishery barometers have been issued during the year, making the total number of these instruments 113. has been 1,3942. 0 4, but there is an outstanding account with the Post Office which amounts to upwards of 1,0002.III. Land Meteorology of the British IslandThe seven observatories are in active operatioThe publication of the Quarterly Weather Report has been carried on steadily, and the last part of the volume for 1869 appeared at the close of the financial year. The arrears are being steadily worked off.Arrangements have been made for the production of the plates by copperplate printing, and consequently an additional clerk has been engaged for the purpose of working Wagner’s pantagraph.OfficTbe expenses of management in salaries and wages have been 1,195. 7ft, as compared with 1,562. la 3 in the previous year. This reduction is due to the resignation of Dr. Stewart the secretary, and the consequent transference of his work to Mr. Scott the director.The other expenses incident on the office for rent, furniture, postage, &c., have amounted to 787. li Description of the Process by which the Traces op the SelfRegistering Instruments are reduced suitably for PublicatioThe original traces made during five days by the various instruments, at each of the seven observatories, if placed side by side on a screen, would occupy an area of at least 12 feet by 4 feet. The whole of this information is compressed, with perfect clearness, into a single 4to. platThe difficulty which has had to be overcome, lay not only in the bulk, but also in the proportions of the traces varying in different dimensionOn the one hand it was found that the horizontal scale might be considerably compressed, without loss of clearness, when the somewhat blurred line of the original trace was replaced by the delicate clear line of a copper engraving. On the other hand, it was found that the vertical scales did not admit of much reduction with advantage, and again that the vertical scales of each separate barogram and pair oi thermograms required small corrections.

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Dec
26
2011

The next thing to be obserred

The next thing to be obserred

Thus God chose Momnt Sion, whence the gospel was to it sotmded forth, as the law had been from Mount Sinai.VIL here, is God’s solemnly renewing the covenant of grace with David and pwmking that the Messiah should be of his seed. We have in account . of it in the th chapter of the second book of Samuel. It wa done on occasion of the thoughts David entertained of building God an house. On this occasion God sends Nathan th prophet to him, with the glorious promises of the covenant of grace.’ It is especially contained hi these words in the th verse:And thy house and thy kingdom shall be est&bftshed for ever before thee ; thy throne shall be established for ever.” Which promise has respect to Christ, the seed of David, amIs iWfillwi in Mm mly: For the kingdom of David has long since ceased, any otherwise than as it is upheld in Christ. The temporal kingdom of the house of David has now ceased far a great many ages ; much longer than ever it stood.That this covenant that God Jiotr established with David by Nathan the prophet, was the covenant of grace, is evident by the plain testimony of scripture,Un Isa. Iv. There wt have Christ inviting sinners to come to the waters, &c. And in the d vecse he says, ” Incline your ear, come unto me ; hear, and your souls shall live ; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David. Here Christ offers to poor sinners, if they will come to Mm, to give them an interest in the same everlasting covenant that he had made with David, conveying to them the same sure mercies. But what is that covenant that sinners obtain m interest m, rhen they come to Christ, buj the covenant of grace IThis was the fifth solemn establishment of the covenant of grace with the diurch after the fall. The covenant of grace was revealed and established all along. But there had been particular seaton wherein God had in a very solemn manner renewed this covenant with his church, gmng forth a new edition and estabfi&hment of it, revealing it m a new manner.

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Dec
20
2011

I know ypu don’t mean

I know ypu don’t mean

ache” Wait for me,” cried Estelle; and gathering her flowers up in her apron, she scattered some of the rosea over Edmund’s and Bessy’s head, and flew off with Frank, to give the rest to her belpved Aunt Patty. Edmund,” cried Laura, you are really growing dull. You don’t think of shaking yourself agreeably; you. have given up all our pleasant walks and rides, expept a walk in the rain, sometime I don’t believe any one cares about my company. I mean to go home tomorro” No!” said Edmujad catching, by sympathy, her gay tonplead guilty to your charge, but I will redeem my character. I will plan a yoyage to the moon, if it please yju; or a, walk to the summit of Moot, Blanc.”"When you run off into impossibles, to do any thing. If you would plan an excursion to yonder mountain,”and she pointed to the blue, outline of one that gracefully undulated in the disitance, oa the still, glowing horizon,” there would be some gallantry, and practicability, too, in the act.” Your woi;d shall be law!” cried hhave been on the summit and a more enchanting prospect never opened en the ravished eye The ascent is step, but the difficulty only adds interest to the expeditio We can ride tQ the foot of the mountain, aid then begin our pedestrian journey. But it will never dp for ypu, La,ura; for you cannot go la satin slippers, and you never deign to wear any thing of grosser materials” O yes: I would wear wooden shoes, for the sake of the novelty. I am willing to put on a homespun frock, if you, will promise to escort me to that delightful plai I am actually dying of ennui, and the very thought of something new, gives me new lif Bessy, will you go? Abstracted Mr. Homer, and sentimental Miss Yictorine, will yea go? Good Mr. Selwyn,and grove JJflis m»a» will you go ?”She went gayly from one to the other, makipg low, sliding courtesies without, waiting for an answer; aqd laughing at their sudden look of curiosity.”Go where?” asked Homer; alarmed at the thought of a party of pleasur” To that mountain, which always reminds me of Ossian’s ghosts, in its mantle of mist,” answered Bessy.” If the mountain cannot come to us, I suppose we can go to the mountain,” said Mr. Selwyn.

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Dec
18
2011

After a period of purgatory

After a period of purgatory

from the truncheonbearing moralist in blue cloth, ” Mote ok “Where to ? is another questio Never mind! huddle yourselves away out of sight somehow! in the foul hold of the emigrant ship, you may have an opportunity of finding that America and Australia do not require your services anymore than Englan You are not the Bort of men for the diggings or the bush. American manufactures are not in want of fresh hand In short, starve you probably must, and we, as British philanthropists, had rather you starved elsewhere than here before our compassionate eye” But we can work,” you cry; ” we are able and willing to turn the brute matter with which the earth still teems, into usable stuff which the world still want Why, if we were turned loose on some uninhabited island with decent soil and minerals, the labour of our hands would soon wrench wealth out of the rocks and the wildernes Human labour, under Gods blessing, is the source of wealth. We are not only producers to glut the market, we are ready to be consumers to absorb one anothers produc The more we make among us the more there will be to divide among u If produce becomes greater than requirement everybody will have more than enough of everything he want”Poor enthusiasts! You are in the a, b, c of political economy. Look at the practical results of over productio England produces more than she wants, and here are you of the producing classes, hungry, ragged, seeking a refuge in the uttermost parts of the earth. According to the theory on which your hopes are founded you ought to be comfortably off her England is not really overcrowde The fields could still produce more than all the inhabitants could eat; the working population can produce more clothing, furniture, kitchen utensils, drawingroom ornaments, cottages, houses, and palaces, than would suffice for millions above the present populatio If plenty of the things men want made wealth, all of you who are willing to workwould be well off hero already. The result of extra production is, that you are starving.” But,” you reply,” we starve here because taxes are so heavy, the poor man cannot live; and we want to go where there are no taxe”" Stop a bit! What.

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Dec
15
2011

In the then rugged

In the then rugged

The little band ofPilgrim Fathers,’ who, on the th oi oenteniDor. io»u. set sail m tne gooa snio “mavnower.” to seek a refuge and the right of worship wilderness of America, were the heroic heralds of a mighty movement, which, as by the wand of enchantment, has since changed that rugged wilderness into one of the greatest nations which the world has ever seen.Since this penod, England has been constantly throwing off her swarms, sending forth hive after hive of earnest, enugntenea unrisuan communities, uonunent ana lsiana. wilderness ana lungie. lorest ana uraine. out a iew vears since m© aesoiate naunts oi me savaff© ana oi nrownncr ana Greening miners. are now aiive wiin me dusv nam oi commerce, and echoing with the glad sound of the churchgoing bell.On that luxuriant plain, which but a few years since revealed no trace of human kind, save the wreathing smoke from the wild mans solitary wigwam, von see nocKS ana neras ana goiaen cfods surrounding the busy city, teeming withcivilised life. The clear waters of that noble river, for ages undisturbed by aught save me native’s irau canoe, or tne wuci neasts wmcn came at nightfall to lap their dnnk, are now ploughed by gaudysteamers, and thronged by fleets of tall merchantmen and ncn argosies irom tne most distant regionstne eaixn. And we are winning these new worlds of ours, planting our banners over these new and fruitful southern lands, not as in days of old, by the blighting march of armies, by fire, sword, anil desolation, out i»?

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Dec
13
2011

It should be a profession

It should be a profession

This might become more disastrous than even a meagre support. We ask only enough to induce the ablest  writers to make authorship a profession. American literature will never become what its true friends desire, until it is pursued as a calling, just as really as that of tie physician, lawyer, or clergyman. But, with no greater encouragement than the present book-world offers, such a result cannot be enjoyed. For, while men may have courage to press to gory fields of battle, and lay down life itself in the strife for freedom, few will ever have the presumpticm to emlist in the ranks of learning for an author’s scanty fare, and possible crown of martyrdom.  I close with the following sentiments of an unknown writer, as expressive of correet ideas upon this subject. “Literature should be a profession, not a trade., lucrative enough to furnish a good subsistence to its members, but in no way lucrative enough to tempt speculators. As soon as its rewards are high enough, and secure enough, to tempt men to enter the list for the sake of the reward, and parents think of it as an opening for their sons, from that moment it becomes vitiated. Then will the ranks already so numerous, be swelled by an innumerable host of hungry pretenders. It will be— and, indeed, is now fast approaching that .state—like the army of Xerxes, swelled and encumbered by women and children, and ill-trained troops. It should be a Macedonian phalanx, chosen, compact, and irresistable.” «  THE CURRENT OF LIFE.  The current of thy life thou canst’t not shape  In all things to thy will; Resist not waves which thou can’st ne’er escape,  And hast no power to still.  THERE’S N  There’s nothing lost. The tiniest flower    That grows within the darkest vale, Though lost to view, has still the power   The rarest perfume to exhale; That perfume, borne on zephyr’s wings,  May visit some lone, sick one’s bed, And like the balm affection brings, ‘Twill scatter gladness round her head.  There’s nothing lost. The drop of dew   That trembles in the rosebud’s breast, Will seek its home of ether blue,   And fall again as pure and blest, Perchance to revel in the spray,   Or moisten the dry, parching sod, Or mingle in the fountain spray,  Or sparkle in the bow of God.  There’s nothing lost. The seed that’s cast   By careless hands upon the ground, Will yet take root, and may at last  A green and glorious tree be found; THING LOST.  Beneath its shade, some pilgrim may   Seek shelter from the heat at noon, While in its boughs the breezes play,   And song-birds sing their sweetest tune. There’s nothing lost. The slightest tone  Or whisper from a loved one’s voice, May melt a heart of hardest stone,  And make the saddened heart rejoice. And then, again, the careless word  Our thoughtless lips too often speak, May touch a heart already stirred,  And cause that troubled heart to break.  There’s nothing lost. The faintest strain  Of breathing from some dear one’s lute, In memory’s dream may come again,  Tho’ every mournful string be mute. The music of some happier hour —  The harp that swells with love’s own words May thrill the soul with deepest power,  When still the hand that swept its chords.  Anon.   DISCRIMINATION AMONG PARENTS.  EDITORIAL.  Perhaps discrimination is as important to parents as to any other class. Its faithful exercise will save many hours of perplexity and trial. It will aid in understanding, the tempers and tendencies of childhood, in perceiving the bent of the mind with reference to the 21calling of life, in detecting the incipient advances of disease, and in other things nearly as important to the welfare of children, and the success and happiness of parents. It is a quality that can find occasions for constant exercise at the fireside.

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Dec
11
2011

The convents of the present

The convents of the present

It may be asserted, and most generally this is used as the refuting argument, that if ladies desire to form an association for their individual pleasure, surely there can exist no objection to their doing so. That by imposing certain restrictions upon themselves of a physical nature, they mutually aid each other in the attainment of a better world; that such institutions take their origin in the remote ages of Catholicity, and were founded by men eminently good; and that as the life is injurious to no one, while it brings many holy women to our religion, the institution is deserving of reverence. Thus the clergy explain the necessity of the laity upholding religious houses ; and it is only when some flagrant instance of undue influence being exercised over those who are beguiled into their meshes, that the Catholics of this country are put to the blush to excuse the “over zeal” of their worthy pastors. day may be divided into two classes: those whose rules command utter exclusion from the world, and those who by professing to educate young Catholic ladies, are enabled to obtain an easy competency, and exert their influence towards firmly grounding the religion in the rising generation of English Catholic mothers. The number of convents in England is fifty-three, of which twentyseven are exclusive, but in this number are included the Sisters of Mercy and Charity, who are not confined within the enclosure. These orders are of a more public character. Sisters of Charity and Mercy have long since made their utility felt by those who stand in most need of assistance—the very poor; and as no seclusion is demanded of them, though nuns, 9they are wholly distinct from the inmates of a convent. Of the first class—those whose entire existence is passed in the endeavour to save their own souls, without regarding the spiritual or temporal wants of the rest of their fellow-mortals, are the drones in the busy hive of Catholic propagation; still they have their uses, which are turned to no inconsiderable advantage. The convents of this class are not numerous, and the reason lies in the severity of their regulations, which do not admit of their seeking adventitious means of ekeing out support. Consequently, the inmates are required to be ladies of independent fortune, and it becomes a matter of solicitude to secure such as can bring a a larger portion than the stipulated amount, in order to establish a capital for the institution independent of the life annuities of the community. From this circumstance such convents become the most select, and are sought by such of the wealthy and patrician daughters of our faith as seek total seclusion from the world, and are not desirous to add the laborious occupation of teaching to the other privations of a cloistral life. One or two wealthy heiresses assuming the veil in a religious house of this character, are sufficient to establish not only its resources, but its name; and there is a religious ambition for renown even among the convents.Mere utilitariansim is certainly not chargeable to institutions of this denomination; that is to say, they are wholly innocent of any ostensible good whatever to the world in which they were sent for the purpose of fulfilling the ordinances of their Creator.

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Dec
08
2011

This fact speaks for itself

This fact speaks for itself

When it is remembered that I was going in a straight direction through the country, some idea may be formed of the extent of this enormous silk district, which probably occupies a circle of at least a hundred miles in diameter. And this, it must be remembered, is only one of the silk districts in China, but it is the principal and the best one. The merchant and silkmanufacturer will form a good idea of the quantity of silk consumed in China, when told that, after the war, on the port of Shanghae being opened, the exports of raw silk increased m two or three years fromto , bales. This fact shows,think, the enormous quantity which must have been in the Chinese market before the extra demand could have been so easily supplied. But as it is with tea, so it is with silk,the quantity exported bears but a small proportion to that consumed by the Chinese themselves. The . extra bales sent yearly out of the country have not in the least degree affected the price of raw silk or of silk manufactures..Sehmunyuen, a town aboutle northeast from Hangchowfoo. was the next place of any note which I passed. It is apparently a very ancientcity, but has no trade, and is altogether in a most dilapidated condition. The walls were completely overrun with wild shrubs, and in many places were crumbling into rums. It had evidently seen better and more prosperous days, which had long ago passed dv. jl ne Boatmen miormea me mat tnis imrt of tne country abounded in thieves and robbers, and that they must not all go to bed at night, otherwise something would be stolen from the boat before morning.We reached the city about three o’clock in the afternoon. The morning had been cold and rainy, and the boatmen, who were all wet to the skin, refused to proceed further that day, I was therefore obliged to make up my mind to stay there all that night, and a more disagreeable one I never spent. After dark my servants and the boatmen told stones of celebrated pirates and robbers, untd they frightened themselves, and almost made me believe myself to be in dangerous company. The wind was very high, and, as it whistled amongst the ruinous ramparts, the sound was dismal enough; and what added still more to our discomfort tee ram neat tnrougn me rooi of our DoaL ana Kent ariDDing upon our oeas.Before retiring to sleep it had been arranged that my coohe and one of the boatmen were to sit and keep watch during the night for our protection from thieves.

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Dec
06
2011

I know not which is the most

I know not which is the most

Here then is a specimen of Irish poetry, which, by the bye, is generally the effusion of some blind itinerant bard, or some rustic minstrel, into whose breast the genius of his country has breathed inspiration, as he patiently drove the plough, or laboriously worked in the bog.I. u My love, when she floats on the mountains brow is like the dewy cloud on the summer’s loveliest evening. Her forehead is as a pearl; her spiral locks are gold; and I grieve that I cannot banish her from my memory. Miss Brook, in her elegant version of the works of some of the Irish Bards, says, ” ‘Tis scarcely possible that any language can be more adapted to lyric poetry than the Irish; so great is the smoothness and harmony of its numbers: it is also possessed of a refined delicacy, a descriptive power, and |H exquisite tender simplicity of expression : two or three little artless words, or perhaps a single epithet, will sometimes convey such an image of sentiment or suffering to the mind, that one lays down the book to look at the picture. ” When she entert m forest like the bounding doe, dispersing the dew with her aiiy steps, her mantle on her arm, the axe in hand, to cut the branches of flame; noblethe King of the Saxons, or Cathlien Nolan.”This little song is of so ancient a date, that Glorvina assures me, neither the name of the composer for the melody is exquisitely beautiful nor the poet have escaped the oblivion of time. But, if we may judge of the rank of the poet’by that of his mistress, it must havebeen of a very humble degree; for it is evident that the fair Cathlien, whose form is compared, in splendour, to that of the Saxon monarch, is represented as cutting wood for the ire.The following songs, however, are by the most celebrated of all the modern Irish bards, Turloch Carolan,f and the airs to which he has composed The King of England if still called by the common Irish, Riagh Sasseanach.f He was born in the village of Nobber, county of Westmeath, in If , and died in . He never regretted the loss of sight, but used gaily to say, u My eyes are only transplanted into my ears. Of his poetry, the reader may form some judgment from these examples;

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