in their own countries, without stationary settlements. But by the character of its soil, by the succession of mountains and valleys, the number of its navigable rivers, and above all, by its coasts on the Medi those regions in so remarkable a manner, that this similar temperature of the air (which is moreover not perfectly equal, under equal degrees of latitude, since Asia is colder) can afford no foundation for a comparison. Further to the north nature gradually dies. Thus, although our continent has in no part the luxuriant fertility of tropical regions, yet it has nowhere a climate that consumes the entire labour of the inhabitants in procuring the means of sub-terranean, Europe is distinguished from sistence. Europe, except where produced by local causes, is throughout susceptible of agriculture. It invites, and, indeed, in some measure compels men to till the soil, for it is suited neither to hunting nor pasturage. Although its inhabitants have, at various times, changed their places of abodes, they were never wandering tribes. They emigrated to conquer, to make new settlements, where plunder, or superior fertility attracted them. No European nation ever lived in tents; the well-wooded plains offered, in abundance, the materials for constructing those huts, which the inclement skies required. The soil and climate were peculiarly fitted to accustom men to that regular industry which is the source of all wealth. Europe, indeed, could boast of few valuable products; perhaps of no one which was exclusively its own; but, if it was necessary to transplant its choicest productions from distant regions, this want produced the necessity of cherishing or nursing them. Thus art became united to nature, and this union is the mother of the gradual improvement of our race. Without exertion, the sphere of human ideas can never be enlarged; but at the same time, the mere preservation of man must not require the exercise of all his faculties. A degree of fertility in the soil, sufficient to reward the pains of cultivation, prevails almost equally over Europe; there are no vast tracts of perfect barrenness; no deserts like those of Arabia and Africa; and the extensive plains being only in the eastern districts, and these are plentifully supplied with water. Mountains of a moderate elevation usually interrupt the plains: in every direction there is an agreeable succession of hill and valley; and if nature does not exhibit the magnificence of the torrid zone, her revival in the spring of the year compensates for it by charms which do not belong to the splendid uniformity of tropical climates. It is true that a similar climate is shared by a large portion of Central Asia; and it may be asked, why that district should not exhibit a similar state of society; whereas, we find that the pastoral nations of Tartary and Mongolia made no advancement, so long as they remained But, it may be asked, Ought we not to attribute to this physical difference those moral advantages which flowed from the better regulation of domestic society in Europe? With this begins, in some measure, the history of the first civilization of our continent; tradition has not forgotten to inform us, that Cecrops, when he founded his colony among the savage inhabitants of Attica, instituted, at the same time, regular marriages; and who has not learned of Tacitus the holy custom of our German ancestors? Is it merely the character of the climate which causes both the sexes to ripen more gradually, and more simultaneously, and a cooler blood to flow in the veins of man? or, is a more delicate sentiment impressed upon the European, a greater moral elevation, which determines the relation of the two sexes? Be this as it may, who does not perceive the decisive importance of this fact? Does not the wall of division, which separates the inhabitants of the east from those of the west, repose chiefly upon this basis? And can it be doubted, that this superior domestic institution was essential to the progress of our political institutions? for we assert confidently, that no nation, where polygamy was established, has ever obtained a free and well-regulated constitution. Whether these causes alone, or whether others besides them (for who will deny that there may have been others?) procured for the Europeans their superiority; thus much is certain, that all Europe may now boast of this superiority. The nations of southern may, indeed, have preceded those of northern Europe; but although the northern tribes were still wandering in their forests, when the nations of the south had reached a high pitch of cultivation, they made up in the end for their backwardness. Their time also came; the time when they could look down on their southern brethren with a just consciousness of superiority. This leads us to the important differences which are peculiar to the north and the south of this continent. A chain of mountains, which, though many arms extend to the north and south, has its main direction from west to east-the chain of the Alps, connected in the west with the Pyrenees, by the mountains of Sevennes, extending to the Carpathian and the Balkan towards the east as far as the shores of the Black sea, divide this continent into two very unequal parts, the southern and the northern. It separates the three peninsulas which run to the south, those of Spain, Italy, and Greece, together with the southern coast of France and Germany, from the great continent of Europe, which extends to the north beyond the polar circle. This last, which is by far the larger half, contains almost all the great rivers of this continent; of the streams which fall into the Mediterranean, the Ebro, the Rhone, and the Po, are alone important for navigation. No other mountain chain of our earth has had such an influence on the destiny of mankind as the Alps. During a long succession of ages, they parted, as it were, two worlds from each other: the fairest buds of civilization had already opened under the Grecian and Hesperian skies, whilst scattered tribes of barbarians were yet wandering in the forests of the north. How different would have been the whole history of Europe, had the walls of the Alps, instead of being near the Mediterranean, been removed to the shores of the north sea! This boundary, it is true, seems of less moment in our time; when the enterprizing spirit of the European has carried a road across the Alps, as it has found a path over the ocean: but it was of decisive importance for the times of which we are speakingfor antiquity. The north and south were then physically, morally, and politically divided; that chain long remained the protecting bulwark of one against the other; and although Cesar, by at length bursting through these boundaries, in some measure removed the political landmarks, nevertheless, the distinction still continues apparent between the Roman part of Europe, and that which never yielded to the Romans. The limited extent of the southern part of this continent which seemed to afford no room for powerful nations, was amply compensated by its climate and situation. What traveller from the north ever descended the southern side of the Alps, without being excited by the view of the novel scenery which surrounded him? The deeper blue of the Italian and Grecian sky, the milder air, the more graceful forms of the mountains, the splendour of the rocky shores and the islands, the dark tints of the forest, the gardens glittering with golden fruits-all these exist not merely in the songs of the poets! Although the tropical climes are still distant, a foretaste of them is enjoyed even in these regions. The aloe grows wild in Lower Italy; the sugar cane thrives in Sicily; from the top of Etna the eye can discern the rocks of Malta, where the fruit of the palm tree ripens; and in the azure distance, even the coast of neighbouring Africa. Here nature never partakes of the uniformity which so long repressed the spirit of the nations that inhabited the forests and plains of the north. In all these countries there is a constant alternation of moderately elevated mountains, pleasant valleys, and fertile plains, over which Pomona has scattered her choicest blessings. The limited extent of the countries allows, indeed, no large navigable rivers; but an ample indemnification is furnished by its seacoasts, so extensive, and so rich in bays. The Mediterranean belongs to the south of Europe; and it was by means of that sea that the western nations first assumed the rank which they hold among the nations of the world. Let a large barren plain occupy its place, and we should yet be wandering Tartars and Mongolians, like the nomads of Central Asia.-Professor Heeren. OLD HUMPHREY'S DISH OF ODDS AND ENDS. IT is not, I believe, an unusual thing for families of a prudent and economical turn, occasionally to cook up a dish of odds and ends. Broken meats, the fragments of joints, which have been only partially consumed, are put together; pieces of beef and veal, the back and side bones of a fowl, and the remnants of a neck or leg of mutton. These are stewed, or made into pies. In the course of my life, I have, many a time, partaken of a dish of this sort, with a good appetite and a thankful heart. Well, it suits my convenience, every now and then, to cook up a mental dish of this kind; to fling together such fragmentary incidents, remarks, and reflections, as would not of themselves individually make a chapter. This course enables me to offer an observation to a | correspondent, and to give "a local habitation and a name to fugitive thoughts and occurrences, which otherwise would have no home, and no record of their existence. The present chapter is a mental dish of this description. may not be a two-sided one? If ministers are sometimes reserved, are not their hearers sometimes presuming? 66 I have been invited, by a kind friend, to consider the subject of showing forth the Christian spirit in the lesser things of life. Some reflections on this matter have As many correspondents have ex- already been flung together by me, and I pressed for me much kindly sympathy trust, soon, to complete them. In the respecting the accident by which my hand mean time, my correspondent will, I and arm were injured, I wish, while I hope, exemplify the Christian spirit, in heartily thank them for their kind condo-bearing a little longer with Old Humlence, to say a few words that may ex- phrey. plain some things, which must, without such explanation, appear paradoxical. It sometimes occurs, that papers written by me for the Visitor, do not appear in its pages until months afterwards. The relation of my accident was a case of this kind, and hence arose the anomaly of my being in reality upright, hale, and strong, while in the Visitor I was depicted as being an invalid and a sufferer. If readers will kindly bear this remark in mind, it may possibly, in other cases, prevent misconstruction, and relieve me from apparent inconsistency. My aged Chester friend, who addresses me as Humphrey the old," is not forgotten by me, but, on the contrary, borne in my kindest remembrance. My message to her, with regard to "dear thoughtless E-," is, "Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not," Gal. vi. 9. Being about a week ago in the company of a few ladies, with whom I am on friendly terms, and observing that they were somewhat severe on the foibles of a neighbour of theirs, not present, I endeavoured, in a pleasant way, to turn the I am requested by a fair correspond- current of their conversation. “Ladies," ent to point out the comparative advan- said I, "a kind-hearted Christian female tages and disadvantages of the single and friend, whom I happen to know, retained, married life; but I really must be ex- for many years, a set of stout and trustcused from undertaking what I feel so worthy servants. One of them, howvery incompetent to perform. It is not, ever, being injured by a sudden acciin my opinion, so much the state of mar- dent, could no longer remain in service. riage or celibacy that constitutes happi- Soon after a second became incapacitated ness or unhappiness, as it is the conduct through weakness. In .course of time, of the parties therein. With humility, two more were discharged for bad conacquiescence in God's will, cheerfulness, duct, and another, supposed to have been thankfulness, and piety, both estates will corrupted by them, was likewise dissupply abundance of contentment; and missed. But though five hard-working without these qualities neither of them domestics were thus lost to the establishcan secure it. ment, no others were taken to supply their I am required, also, by others, to ex-places, and the remaining servants are press my opinion on the subject of ministers leaving their congregations for wealthier benefices, and on their holding so little communication with the middle classes; but not liking to meddle in things too high for me, I will only venture on a passing remark, which I would make with meekness. When a minister of the gospel turns aside from the plain path of duty, merely to secure a worldly advantage, he prepares for himself a bed of nettles, and a pillow of thorns. There may be many cases, and I fear there are, especially in the country, wherein clergymen err, by standing aloof from the middle class of their congregation; but while I regret this, I would diffidently ask, whether the fault now doing the whole of the work, without the slightest advance in their wages. The question is, Whether you think that such conduct on the part of the lady can be justified, or, indeed, Whether it is at all consistent with kindness and integrity?” You may be sure that a loud outcry was raised against the lady who could act in so unreasonable a manner; but this outcry was immediately changed into a look of incredulous surprise, when I told them I really thought that almost every one present had practised the very same conduct they all condemned. "The lady," said I, "as I said before, is a friend of mine; her 'stout and trusty servants' were her teeth, five of which, through accident or decay she lost; so that at the present time her remaining trusty teeth, though far from being so strong as they once were, are doing the whole work formerly done by the whole set, without any additional remunera tion." The ladies saw the drift of my remarks, and frankly acknowledged with a laugh that I judged them correctly in supposing that they had acted in the same way. This gave me an opportunity of observing that as that was the case, it would perhaps be but prudent on their part to be a little less severe on the foibles of their neighbour; for as they admitted themselves to be as much to blame as the party they had condemned in one case, so it was possible that they might be equally so in the other. I have, on one or two occasions, alluded to a judicious friend of mine, who occasionally favours me, by running the point of his cedar pencil through a faulty passage in such of my papers as may be submitted to his judgment. A somewhat ludicrous instance of his censorship latterly occurred. Having submitted to him some papers containing sea phrases, wherein I had taken the slang of a sailor for my model, rather than Murray's grammar, I was much amused in looking over the pencil marks, with which, in the very spirit of liberality, my unsparing critic had abundantly supplied me. I had adopted certain abbreviations which appeared not to meet the views of my friend, and I thought it by no means difficult to ascertain the exact temperature of his emotions by the mere marks of his cedar pencil. At first my abbreviations were lightly indicated, as though I had hardly committed a fault in making them, and that the gentle suggestion was rather meant to put me on my guard than to reprove me. There seemed a kindly spirit of considerate forbearance, a tenderness of reproof, that appeared almost to regret the necessity of its being made. Farther on, however, the cedar pencil in marking the very same abbreviations became a litttle more decided. Not by any means severe, but, as I said, decided, just as much as to say, "This must not pass without some notice." Soon after this, I was visited with still broader marks of reprehension, which gradually increasing in energy, at length amounted to that "black, bold, resolute, and orthodox dash," which I have formerly described. At last, it appeared that the patience of | my vigilant critic, evidently tried beyond endurance, had given way to something akin to indignation; for the point of the cedar pencil had not only inflicted its darkest dash, but absolutely perforated the very paper. Laughing outright at this open and unequivocal manifestation of disapproval, I congratulated_myself in having been absent during the correction of my faulty production, and felt well pleased in being able not only to avail myself of the sound judgment of my friend, but, also, to extract a passing pleasure from the most indignant dash of his cedar pencil. A short time ago, a worthy couple living near me, whom I much respected, quitted England on board the Black River packet, captain Baker, to settle in the West Indies. Thinking it would be but a friendly act to write them a few encouraging words, to be read by them when they were on the world of waters, I penned them a letter. The following lines formed a part of my communication. They possibly may, appearing in this chapter, be read by others about to cross the mighty deep, to whom they may be suitable; and it is with this object in view, that I now venture to introduce them. "You are going, and I hope and trust that God's blessing will go with you, to seek, in a distant country, a fairer inheritance than it has pleased the Father of mercies to afford you in your own land. If you were rich, if you were going out as rulers and governors of Jamaica, though I should in that case have wished you well, you would not have been troubled with a line from the pen of Old Humphrey. By the time you read this communication you will be on the mighty deep, and, perhaps, midway between your native land and the place of your destination. The winds will blow around you, and the waves rise in commotion, and, now and then, the coal-black sky will look angrily. But whose are the winds and the waves? and who has spread the firmament above your heads? Can the wind blow without leave, the billows rise without permission? or the sky hang out a dark cloud, even the size of a man's hand, without liberty from the high and Holy One? You know they cannot. The moment you are out of God's hands you will be in danger-ay in great danger, but not before. And so long as you are in God's keeping, the cradled babe that sleeps smiling, under the care of his watchful mother, is neither more safe, nor more tenderly watched over than you are. Be at ease, then; for they Whose hope and trust are in the skies, Again, I say, make yourselves easy, for God is with you. He can calm the roughest billows: "the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands formed the dry land." It may be, that in Jamaica you will find the climate troublesome; for many people are tried more by heat than by cold; and when the tornado is abroad, you may, perhaps, call to mind that you never saw such lightning, nor heard such thunder in Old England. But then consider, this will be only looking on one side of the question. He who 'Rides on the whirlwind and directs the storm, ' can find means in his immeasurable mercy to reconcile you to it, and make you amends for every trial you are called on to endure. What, if it pleases God to speak a little louder in the storm, and to scatter his lightnings with a freer hand in the West Indies than in England, perhaps it may be necessary so to do, in a land where the white man requires so much to be reminded that there is a God that ruleth and reigneth, not only in the armies of heaven, but also among the inhabitants of the earth. Lord. The consciousness of this will be a tower of strength to you. "Some sorry specimens of English people go abroad, to whose hearts and souls the leprosy of sin clings as with hooks of iron. These tarnish the reputation of their fatherland, and spread widely the plague spots of vice and immorality. Do what you can to counteract the pestilence that has thus gone abroad, by presenting yourselves as fairer specimens of humanity. "Your relations, and friends, and country, have a right to claim this at your hands. The Christian denomination to which you belong has a right to claim it too; and Old Humphrey, as a dear lover of the land that gave him birth, claims it of you also. Think of this; lift up your eyes and your hearts to the hills whence cometh your strength, and go forth as English people, and as disciples of the Redeemer, embodying and thereby recommending Christianity." ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND MISERY. As to the eternal reward of grace, its distance is so short and uncertain, that if men were not infatuated, it is a wonder that it is not constantly observant to their minds, and that its glorious brightness does not dazzle their eyes. A good man is never sure that heaven is at an hour's distance from him. Then the pleasures of sin, and troubles of duty, are so fleeting and shortlived, that they are scarcely felt, when they presently vanish. It looks like a wilful contempt of happiness for one not to make the utmost efforts to "I need not say be kind to your darkerskinned brethren, nor need I remind you how much we owe them on account of our past unkindness. England, blessed be God, has broken the chain of the cap-wards a life of faith and holiness, when tive. She has now to show mercy in another way, by treating the enfranchised as brethren, and by pointing them to the 'Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.' "Bear in mind that merciful promise, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;' for it is worth more than the West Indies, to those who rightly appreciate and confidingly retain it; and whatever may betide, remember you have not will ingly turned your backs on your country; you have not recklessly followed out the desires of your own hearts; you have not wantonly defied God, and madly ran on the thick bosses of his buckler; but seeking his guidance, you have given yourselves up to his Almighty will, acknowledging him as your leader and your | one is under such vast obligations, has such vast encouragements, and but such insignificant hinderances, when the assistance offered is so powerful, the present pleasure so great, the labour so short, so little, the reward so near, so certain, so glorious, so lasting, yea everlasting. It looks like a choosing of misery, when one takes the course that leads to it, though he is sure eternity is not far off, at the furthest he can possibly expect; when he knows not but the next moment may land him on that unknown shore, and plunge him in an abyss of wretchedness; when he runs that risk for pleasures which he is not sure whether he shall ever attain to, and which he is sure will vanish away like shadows.Maclaurin. |