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And, on the vernal breezes, wings her way
O'er mountain, plain, and far-extending seas,
From Afric's torrid sands to Britain's shore."
GRAHAME.

Think of the injustice, the cruelty, the impurity, that abound; look at provinces wasted and cities pillaged by men in- WHEN I was last at Paris, (says Mr. flamed with the lust of ambition; and Jesse,) I saw women going about with young and old, the helpless and the numbers of swallows in cages, which were strong, involved in one universal destruc- occasionally purchased by persons for the tion; hear from land and sea the cry of pleasure of giving them freedom. I must oppression and agony-the wail of the confess that I was sorry to see these joyous captive, and the appeal of the slave. Re-birds in a state of confinement. There is flect on the wide-spread desolations of abominable idolatries; the earth groaning beneath their altars, and red with the blood of their victims. Think of the sickness, the suffering, that exist in every home, at every hearth. Behold, stretched at our feet, the lifeless forms of many generations, that have been swept away like the leaves of the forest: and then hearken to the maddening cry of despair which rises in an eternal strain from the bottomless pit; and as the heart sickens at the survey, and we inquire, "Whence all these appalling evils? what has brought this bitter, burning woe into our world?” a million voices loudly reply, "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." These are its consequences, this the fruit of the deadly evil, sin.

Reader! do you think lightly of sin? Spake not Solomon truly when he exclaimed, "Fools make a mock at sin," Prov. xiv. 9. Who else would? It endangers the soul that loves it, that yields to it. Are you doing so? Will you not pause? A gulf is at your feet. Do you wish to be saved from the awful consequences of your sin? Do you desire to be freed from its curse and its power? "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." He can save, and he alone. He is willing as well as able. Apply to him without delay. Every sinner's case is desperate. Like Peter sinking, do you cry, "Lord, save, or I perish?" How cheering to know that his blood cleanseth from all sin; that he has atoned for sinners, and satisfied the claims of the violated law; that the Father is ready to forgive you, and the Holy Spirit to "create in you a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within you!" Seek earnestly the God of your salvation. Lay hold, by faith, of the cross of the Redeemer.

T. A.

so much hilarity in all their movements, their song is so sweet, and they nestle with so much confidence about our houses, that I have always regarded them with peculiar affection and pleasure. These have not been lessened by the following account, for which I am indebted to the kindness of a clergyman: many of the clergy have sent me much pleasing information. I cannot do better than copy his own words.

"Five or six years ago, three swallows fell down one of the chimneys of my house. Their naked and helpless condition having excited the pity of my family, it was determined to endeavour to rear them. I, therefore, became their foster-parent: in rainy days they were fed with egg, and in sunny weather with various species of flies. I found it, however, a very difficult task to supply them with a sufficient number. I could only do so by sweeping the heads of umbelliferous plants with my fly-net. All the swallow tribe continue in their nests a very long time before they take their first flight; but I was anxious that my protégées should exercise their wings as soon as possible, and thus prepare themselves for into the air as soon as I could do so pruemigration. I, therefore, threw them alarmed, and clung to the nearest object dently. At first they appeared much they could fasten upon; but in a few days they not only flew about, but caught their food expertly. Some time, however, elapsed before they could satisfy the cravings of appetite through their own exertions. This occasioned them fre

quently to appeal to me for assistance in They would utter a plaintive cry in flying a manner too intelligible to be mistaken. around me, and sometimes settle upon me. On these occasions, I usually led them to those places where the inula dysenterica (asters) abounded, from the flowers of which I easily captured various species of syrphi in the hollow of my hand.

It

was truly amusing to observe the eager- sects. They build in places where we ness with which the movement of my should little expect to find their nests. hand was watched, and with what vora- While fishing this year in the neighbourcity the produce of my efforts were de- hood of Dover, I discovered that a pair voured. As soon as my birds could fly, of swallows had built under an archway an open basket, having a perch across it, of a paper-mill, through which the water was set apart for their use: here they rushed with great force. The space berested by day, and roosted at night. It tween the water and the nest could not was placed in the open air in the morning, have been more than two feet, and yet and removed at night into the house. the birds fearlessly conveyed food to their young, and again came forth to seek for more, at moments when the foaming stream appeared to fill up nearly the whole of the archway.

"It often happened that my little charge had enjoyed two or three hours disporting before I was prepared to walk. I was, however, recognised and greeted as soon as I appeared; and whether I pursued the course of the roads, or rambled into the fields, they generally encircled me in their flight, sometimes resting upon me, or accepting a fly from my fingers. These amusive proceedings continued four or five weeks; but after that period, according to my wish, our intercourse diminished daily. They associated more and more with their congeners, who were collecting together as is usual at this period of the year, and were absent more frequently and for longer intervals; but, whenever or wherever they again appeared, they seldom failed to come to me when I summoned them by my call. Having disappeared for two or three days, I considered that our connexion was altogether dissolved; but as I was walking to an adjoining village, one of the birds gave me his wonted salutation in passing, and, on my invitation, perched on one of my fingers. In this position I conveyed it to the village green, and there, in the presence of several persons, cast it into the air, with some exclamation expressive of my wish for its welfare. "I was often solicited to continue my interesting charge throughout the winter, but I had accomplished my object. I had promoted the enjoyment of existence. That was sufficient. By attempting more, and thwarting the demands of instinct, I should probably have terminated that happiness which had been the object of my care and interest."

Should the foregoing anecdote chance to be read by any one who has thoughtlessly been in the habit of destroying these useful and interesting birds, it I trust, induce him to forego a practice I have never witnessed without regret.

may,

There appears to be no portion of the known world in which they are not to be found in certain seasons of the year, and where their indefatigable exertions keep down too great a preponderance of in

It is, we presume, generally known, that the swallow tribe, which visit us in the spring and summer, winter in Egypt and on the northern shores of Africa; but the fact may be new to some of our readers, that the six* species of swallows we possess, are found among many others, which though apparently equally powerful of wing, and capable of flight, do not appear to leave their native country. In the swallow tribe, the double purpose seems fulfilled, of devouring the numerous colonies of insects that breed with us in the hotter months of the year, and also of securing a proper climate and country for their own nidification; but in the case of other birds of passage, such as the goatsucker (caprimulgus) and the cuckoo, though they feed also on insects, yet their numbers are so confined, as to lead us to presume that the purpose of their coming to our shores, must be altogether confined to their own preservation and increase. It is also curious, that though bees are so numerous in England, through care and domestication, yet that the bird, the merops apiaster, whose natural prey they are, is so seldom found here; whereas it seems a general law of nature, that "where the carcass is, there the eagles are gathered together;" and that animals never fail to frequent those places where is the food convenient for them.

OH, MY BAD MEMORY! "I will never forget thy precepts," Psa. cxix. 93.

My title and my motto are completely at variance; but this only shows that there exists an essential difference between the psalmist and the generality of mankind; and, therefore, gives me a

The swallow, three martins, and two swifts. The pratincole, though resembling the swallows

externally, does not belong to this family. In its habits, its skeleton, and in the character of its eggs, the pratincole is closely allied to the plovers.

more striking precedent by which to Pray, where have you been to-day?" prove that popular opinion is not always is a question which is frequently procorrect, even when a man is passing judg-posed to bad-memory men as well as to ment upon himself. other men, especially on a sabbath evening.

"I have an exceedingly bad memory," says one, and, indeed, so says many an one: but I am not quite sure that these complaints are always well founded, or that they are exactly proper and becoming. The fault may sometimes be in the judgment of or concerning the memory, and not in the memory itself; and again, the deficiency may be, not in the memory, but in the exercise or cultivation of it; and sometimes the treachery of the memory may be the result of the natural depravity of the heart. Seeing, then, that we are liable to mistakes in this matter, it is certainly the duty of all these plaintiffs to find out the place where the defect is, that they may not form a wrong judgment, pronounce an unjust sentence, and preclude a salutary remedy. Are you quite sure that your memory is really a bad one? Oh yes, that it is without any doubt.-But how do you know that it is a bad one? Oh, that is the easiest thing in the world to discover. I can scarcely think of anything. I very often forget what I ought to keep in mind, and this, of course, is a sufficient proof of a bad memory.-But is your memory to be blamed, or is the blame your own for not properly cultivating it? Why, I cannot exactly say as to that, but I believe I have a very bad memory-one that is regularly and naturally deficient. But who or what is to be blamed for it? I do not know; only I know that I have a very bad memory.-Indeed, perhaps you have; but examine the cause, and take care that you do not sin against God by indirectly throwing the blame upon your Maker. If judgment were to be formed from the testimony or evidence of the multitude who lay such heavy complaints against their memories, one would be led to suppose that nine-tenths of the human species were deficient in this respect, and that consequently the work of the Creator was so far imperfect. The reverse, however, is the fact; for I firmly believe there is not one memory in ten that is naturally defective. When worldly interest is concerned, the memory is often sufficiently active and retentive; but when moral or spiritual matters are introduced, it often sinks again into dulness and inability. I have known this truth illustrated by conversations somewhat similar to the following.

"Well, I have been to hear our minister, Mr. B—.”

"And what has Mr. B― said to you?" "Oh, he has preached us an excellent sermon indeed.'

Pray from what

"I dare say he has. text did he preach?" "Text?-let me see; dear me-wherever was the text? what a memory I have!-I have quite forgot."

"Is it in the Old or the New Testament, think you?"

"In the Old Testament I think, or perhaps in the New; I do not exactly recollect."

"Well, it is very possible that it may have escaped your memory; but pray what was the sermon about?"

"About? Why it was about a good many things, but I cannot tell you them all.'

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"Oh no, that is not likely; but what was the leading subject ?—did the sermon treat of faith or practice?"

"Well, really I cannot tell you; I have quite forgot.”

When one sees a person brought into a dilemma of this kind, it becomes desirable, out of courtesy, to change the subject as soon as possible, that he may be relieved from his embarrassment, and an Englishman has always a subject ready to introduce the state of the weather. "It is very stormy."

"Yes, it is; but I have known a greater storm than this."

"Have you indeed?"

"Oh yes; I can recollect it as well as if it were yesterday, although it is more than thirty years since."

"Indeed!"

"Yes; I recollect the place at which I happened to be at that time, and the horse on which I rode, and all about it, and I can assure you this storm is nothing to what that was.

Oh, the inconsistency of man! and the treachery and depravity, not of the memory, but of the heart! Here we see that all the circumstances of a storm could be recollected thirty years, while all the particulars of a sermon were forgotten in a few hours. And this is no far-fetched, improbable case. Similar conversations have, I have no doubt, taken place thousands of times.

This treachery, however, is very much to be deplored, and to be conscientiously guarded against. "We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." A tolerably good memory, as it regards spiritual things, is a great advantage. It is a great means of increasing faith and hope. The more we can remember of the words, and works, and promises of God, the stronger will be our hope and confidence. Memory is the storehouse of experience, and experience worketh hope. It is a great help to gratitude. We ought to be thankful to God for past favours; but this we cannot be, if we have forgotten them. It is a great help to humiliation. We ought to be humbled on account of our many follies, infirmities, and imperfections; but how can we, if they have all departed from our recollection? It has great power in overcoming temptation. A man whose memory is well stored with Divine truth, has a double chance with the enemy. It was by the sword of the Spirit that Jesus repulsed and vanquished the devil in the wilderness. It is also a great source of comfort in times of trouble, affliction, and sorrow. This the psalmist found it to be. He meditated much on the Divine law and government; his mind was well stored with sacred truth; and in all his persecutions, troubles, and exercises, he could always derive comfort and satisfaction from the remembrance of the name and word of the Lord. Happy is that man who, in the time of need, can call to his aid the words of eternal life from the resources of his own memory.

But now the question arises, How is a good memory to be obtained? or, in other words, How is a treacherous memory to be amended or improved? I would answer: First of all, follow the plan of the psalmist: he made a resolution, "I will never forget thy precepts;" go thou and do likewise; there is nothing done without determination; be resolved, therefore, to "keep these things in remembrance;" and having once formed the resolution, success is certain.

The memory is to the mind what the stomach is to the body; and if the stomach of a healthy person be too full or too empty, or if it contain poisonous or unwholesome matter, the body will be disordered accordingly, although there may be no radical disease. It is just so with the memory and mind; therefore, - banish all unprofitable and idle reminis

cences from the memory, that it may prepared to receive better things.

be

Cultivate the memory systematically. Hear, read, write, meditate, strive, and thus gradually habituate the memory to perform its office, and you will soon reap an ample reward in the possession of a memory which will not often deceive you, and of which you will not have to utter complaints. Above all, pray to God to assist you, and crave the influence and assistance of the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit will not only "help your infirmities," but bring good things to your remembrance.

"A man says he has a treacherous memory," observes a certain writer, "and thus excuses himself for neglecting his duty, or disappointing his friends. Such an apology is often an insult to common sense. He has not duly impressed his memory, or he has not regarded the record that memory offered to his notice. All men have certain offices to fulfil, and no obligations are more binding than the performances of our promises. Let a man take but a slight retrospect of a time past, considering to what and to whom he is engaged, and these governing memoranda will not fail to call up all their dependants and followers. The simple fact here is a duty; then succeed, when, how, and where the performance is to be executed. The propriety of not crowding the memory with a promiscuous collection of ideas will be manifest in the experience of those who have seen a torrent of rain fall on the parched ground. It runs off in rapid currents, and leaves the earth nearly as droughty as before, seldom penetrating far into the soil; but slow and continued showers insinuate deeply, and moisten it entirely.

"Memory, like all other human powers, may be assisted by method, and the decay of knowledge repaired by stated times of recollection.

"We call the committing of a thing to memory the getting it by heart; for it is the memory that must transmit it to the heart, and it is in vain to expect that the heart should keep its hold of any truth, when the memory has let it go.

"The memory should not be filled with trifles, as a child's pocket is loaded with trash; but as the ark in the temple was enriched with good things (such as the two tables, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod), so the memory should be full of God's word and the riches of experience." QUARTUS.

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Meeting of George 111. and the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

ENGLISH HISTORY.

GEORGE III.

THE accession of George III. to the British throne was the beginning of a new epoch. Once more that throne was filled by a native-born and a Protestant king, one imbued with the principles of the Reformation. This had not been the case since the accession of Edward vI.; and though George III. was far from being actuated by the spiritual feelings which Edward appears to have possessed, he was influenced by the same principles. His ministers, it must be regretted, were not of the same views with the pious Somerset, while the general bent of the public mind was not free from the evil practices and infidel views so sedulously taught by Charles II. and his associates.

The privy council assembled on 26th October, 1760, the day after the death of George II., when his successor read a short address, which he had directed Lord Bute to prepare, declining one offered him by Pitt, thus showing his intention to distinguish that nobleman by his favour. The behaviour of the young monarch throughout, as characterized by a contemporary, was marked by "the greatest propriety, dignity, and decency." Another wrote: "So much unaffected good nature and propriety appears in all our young king does or says, that it can

not but endear him to all." His figure was handsome, and his countenance open and honest-George III. was decidedly an honest man. Whatever defects may appear in him as the history proceeds, he will be found honest, and therefore moral; while in all outward forms he was strictly religious, tolerant also according to the principles of his family, with a decided respect for really pious persons. This he had already avowed, and did so frequently at later periods. His desire for justice was shown by a royal message recommending that the commissions of the judges should no longer be terminated by the death of the king, but that they should hold office with entire independence. A proclamation for the encouragement of piety and virtue, and for preventing and punishing vice, profaneness, and immorality, was issued soon after the accession of George III., and certainly was enforced by his example.

The ministers were retained; Pitt, in reality, conducting the government, Newcastle managing its supporters and distributing favours. They soon, however, found themselves interfered with by the earl of Bute, who had notoriously engrossed the personal regard of the new king. This partiality was carried to an extent injurious to the public welfare, though it arose from regard for personal

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