FLAKES OF SNOW,

As seen through a microscope.

These are only some of the forms in which snow fiakes appear, when examined through a strong magnifier. Their symmetry and beauty are often astonishing, and combined with their brilliancy, which is sometimes such as to excite exclamations of delight from those who beheld them for the first time. We have before recommended the purchase of a microscope for every family, and now mention that invaluable little instrument again, which deserves to be regarded as a piece of indispensable furniture, and children should be permitted to use it freely. Many of the most common objects, when seen through its glasses, appear perfect masses of beauty. Many [are wonderful: an insect's leg or wing, a little shell, a filament of feather, even a bit of cloth or paper, the inside of a flower, or a grain of sand.

Many a person has been struck with some of the results of freezing, without investigating or even inquiring into the general principles of congelation. How many interesting truths remain waiting for our investigation!

Most of the stones in the street are, in one sense, mere frozen masses, differing from ice only in the temperature of fusibility. Many of them are chrystalline in their structure; and ice is highly so. Indeed the change which water undergoes in freezing, is a change from a mass of fluid to one of chrystals. How this change is effected has not yet been explained. One of the phenomena attending it is a sudden emission of heat, at the moment of congelation. The opposite occurs when ice melts, there being then a disappearance of much heat, without any change in the temperature of the substance. The disappearing heat constitutes what is called the latent heat of water, which is indispensable to its existence in the fluid state.

The crystals of ice branch out from each other only at one angle, that is 60 degrees. Now this is soon told: but on it depends a variety of curious effects, which we have not room to specify. Our readers are referred to books on Natural Philosophy for the informathey may need.

Higgins remarks that

"Dr. Nettis, of Middleburgh, was the first to describe these appearances, which he did in 1740. This observer very carefully delineated some of the figures which the chrystallization presented, and of these there is an almost endless variety. But we are chiefly indebted to Captain Scoresby for our information on this interesting subject, who availed himself of his opportunities, during his polar voyages, of not only sketching some of the most remarkable figures, but of measuring the chrystals themselves. This gentleman has classified the several modifications of form he observed.

The amount of snow falling at any place is of course regulated by the mean temperature, or, in other words, by its latitude, elevation and position. According to Mr. Scoresby, it snows nine days out of ten during April and the two following months, in the polar regions; the heaviest fall always happening when a humid stream of air from the sea is met by a cold breeze from the surface of the ice. The inhabitants of these inhospitable climes immure themselves in their huts during the most inclement season, and it is then necessary to stop every aperture, so as to prevent the entrance of the cold atmosphere, or the vapor of the confined air would be immediately frozen and fall as snow.

Snow has been sometimes observed to take, in the polar regions, a red or orange color. This appearance is supposed by some persons to arise from the presence of mineral substances in the condensed vapor, or rather the frozen water, while others suppose it to arise from the presence of animal or vegetable

the snow. In one village much exposed to the west they were exceedingly numerous.

We can scarcely avoid a remark, which may appear to be little, if at all, connected with the fall of snow, though it cannot fail to assist in the proof of a statement already made, that electricity is always developed by atmospheric changes. Snow is universally in an electrified state, and, as far as our own observations have extended, generally positive, but the condition is changed by liquefaction. There are many persons who entertain a skeptical notion of the universal influence of electricity, and in the present uncertain state of the science, so far, at least, as regards the condition of the atmosphere, and the causes which influence it, they need not be at a loss for arguments to support their opinions. But when we discover that so simple a process as that of congelation cannot be carried on without the developement of the agent which in other states produces some of the most awful phenomena we behold above and around us, there can be nothing very absurd in the supposition that it may have something to do with many, if not all, of the meteorological changes. This is not merely an opinion; it is, we think, warranted by our own experiments, and rendered probable by the experiments which have been made by others."

HORTICULTURAL.

The Propagation of Trees, Shrubs, &c. We have been highly gratified by the examination of the thirty-fourth "Prince's Descriptive Catalogue," of the numerous plants cultivated for sale in his old and celebrated nursery at Flushing, Long Island. Those of our readers who appreciate valuable and beautiful trees, flowers and shrubs, will certainly be gratified with a brief account of its contents. Some of them are familiar with the place, and doubtless know from experience how well its beauties can repay the trouble of a visit, even from a distance.

Mr. Prince informs us, in his preface, that the garden and nursery were commenced by his grandfather, William Prince, and that the lives of three generations have been devoted to it. It is eight miles from New York, and easily accessible. A store is opened in Fulton street, and plants sold are delivered at Fulton Market. The qualities of the fruits and flowers named in the catalogue are marked, with their comparative excellencies; and lists of those are given which have been rejected on account of some defect which renders them unworthy of culture, while others much superior can be obtained.—

Many of our readers will be surprised at the following statement of the number of varieties of the principal kinds of fruit and flow

ers.

Apples-315, beside 107 miscellaneous, whose characters have not been fully ascer tained, and 49 rejected:-total, 471. Prices, from 25 to 37 cents each, in small quantities.

Pears-254. Miscellaneous, 137; rejected, 164;-total 555. Prices, 37 to 50 cents.

Cherries-Heart cherries, 45; Bigarreau, 26; Duke and Morello, 25; Ornamental, 14; rejected, 30-total, 140. Price, 50 cents.

Plums-134. Misscellaneous, 41; rejected, 43-total, 218.

Peaches-141. Miscellaneous, 41; reject ed, 43-total, 216. Price, 50 cents. Nectarines, 24.

Apricots, 19. Almonds, 12. Quinces, 14.-Prices of these, 25, 37 and 50 cents.

Mulberries, 14. Walnuts, Chestnuts and Filberts, 31.

Grapes.-Foreign, 74; Hardy Native, 47; Miscellaneous American, 45:-total, 166.

Currants, 32, of which 15 are ornamental and 2 rejected :-viz., the American and English Black Currants.

Raspberries, 40. Gooseberries, 150.
Figs, 49. Pomegranates, 15.

Strawberries, Scarlet and Pine, 36; Hautbois 5: Alpine, 7; Miscellaneous, 15; rejected by the London Horticultural Society, 20-total, 83.

Roses.-Chinese Ever-blooming, Daily or Bengal roses, 131; Tea-scented China roses, 115; Bourbon roses, 98, Noisette roses, 79; Perpetual or Autumnal roses, 51; Hybrid Bourbon 16; Scotch and other Perpetuals, 4; Musk Cluster, 12; Small-leafed, 10; Fairy or Miniature China, 16; Macartney, 9; Multiflora, 15; Banksian, 16; Miscell. Oriental, 4; Hybrid Climbing, 17; Evergreen, 18; Michigan or Prairie, 9; Moss, 40: The Summer Tree roses, &c., which we will not attempt to name, but will only add, that the whole number of varieties of the rose offered for sale, with names and descriptions in the catalogue is above 1300 !

The hints and directions for planting and rearing trees, shrubs, &c., given in different parts of this pamphlet, are brief and practical, and we shall be tempted to give ex

tracts.

Secret Instructions of the Jesuits. EXTRACTS FROM "SECRETA MONITA."

Concluded from the last number, page 754. [The Jesuits sometimes profess to be greater friends of light and liberty than the best of men, even than the founders of American Institutions. Let us have light enough to read their history by, and to watch their busy operations among us, especially when they come near our children.]

At their first settlement, let our members be cautious of purchasing lands; but if they happen to buy such as are well situated, let this be done in the name of some faithful and trusty friend. And that our poverty may have the more colorable gloss of reality, let the purchases, adjacent to the places wherein our colleges are founded, be assigned by the provincial to colleges at a distance; by which means it will be impossible that princes and magistrates can ever attain to a certain knowledge what the revenues of the Society amount to.

Let the greatest sums be always extorted from widows, by frequent remonstrances of out extreme necessities.

In every province, let none but the principal be fully apprised of the real value of our revenues; and let what is contained in the treasury of Rome be always kept as an inviolable secret.

Let it be publicly remonstrated, and every where declared by our members in their private conversation, that the only end of their coming there was, for the instruction of youth, and the good and welfare of the inhabitants; that they do all this without the least view of reward, or respect of persons, and that they are not an incumbrance upon the people, as other religious orders constantly are.

CHAP. II.,

In what manner the society must deport, that they may work themselves into, and after that preserve a familiarity with princes, noblemen, and persons of the greatest distinction.

Princes and persons of distinction every where must by all means be so managed, that we may have their ear, and that will easily secure their hearts: by which way of proceeding, all persons will become our creatures, and no one will dare to give the Society the least disquiet or opposition.

That ecclesiastical persons gain a great

footing in the favor of princes and noblemen, by winking at their vices, and putting a favorable construction on whatever they do amiss, experience convinces; and this we may observe in their contraction of mar riages with their near relations and kindred, or the like. It must be our business to encourage such, whose inclination lies this way, by leading them up in hopes, that through our assistance they may easily obtain a dispensation from the Pope; and no doubt he will readily grant it, if proper reasons be urged, parallel cases produced, and opinions quoted which countenance such actions, when the common good of mankind, and the greater advancement of God's glory, which are the only end and design of the Society, are pretended to be the sole motives to them.

The same must be observed when the prince happens to engage in any enterprise which is not equally approved by all his nobility; for in such cases he must be egged on and excited; whilst they, on the other hand, must be dissuaded from opposing him, and advised to acquiesce in all his proposals. But this must be done only in generals, always avoiding particulars: lest, upon the ill success of the affair, the miscarriage be thrown upon the Society. And should ever the action be called in question, care must be taken to have instructions always ready, plainly forbidding it; and these also must be backed with the authority of some senior members, who, being wholly ignorant of the matter, must attest upon oath, that such groundless insinuations are a malicious and base imputation on the Society.

Above all, due care must be taken to curry favor with the minions and domestics of princes and noblemen; whom by small presents, and many offices of piety, we may so far byass, (bias,) as by means of them to get a faithful intelligence of the bent of their masters' humors and inclinations; thus will the Society be the better qualified to chime in with all their tempers.

How much the Society has benefitted from their engagement in marriage-treaties, the house of Austria and Bourbon, Poland and other kingdoms, are experimental evidences. Wherefore let such matches be with prudence picked out, whose parents are our friends, and firmly attached to our interests.

Princesses and ladies of quality are easily to be gained by the influence of the women of the bed-chamber; for which reason we must by all means pay particular address

to these, for thereby there will be no secrets in the family, but what we shall have fully disclosed to us.

It will be very proper to give invitations to such to attend our sermons and fellowships, to hear our orations and declamations, as also to compliment them with verses and theses; to address them in a genteel and complaisant manner, and at proper opportunities to give them handsome enter

tainments.

Let proper methods be used to get knowledge of the animosities that arise among great men, that we may have a finger in reconciling their differences; for by this means we shall gradually become acquainted with their friends and secret affairs, and of necessity engage one of the parties in our interests.

But should discovery happen to be made, that any person serves either king or prince, who is not well-affected towards our Society, no stone must be left unturned by our members, or which is more proper, some other, to induce him by promises, favors and preferments, which must be procured for him under his king or prince, to entertain a friendship for and familiarity with

us.

CHAP. III.

How the SOCIETY must behave themselves towards those who are at the helm of affairs, and others, who, though they be not rich, are notwithstanding in a capacity of being otherwise serviceable.

They must be also employed in calming the minds of the meaner sort of people, and in wheedling the aversions of the populace into an affection for our society.

CHAP. VI.

Of proper methods for inducing rich wi dows to be liberal to our Society.

For the managing this affair, let such members only be chosen as are advanced in age, of a lively complexion and agreeable conversation; let these frequently visit such widows, and the minute they begin to show any affection toward our order, then is the time to lay before them the good works and merits of the Society; if they seem kindly to give ear to this, and begin to visit our churches, we must by all means take care to provide them confessors, by whom they may be well admonished, especially to a constant perseverance in their state of widowhood; and this, by enumerating and praising the advantages and

felicity of a single life; and let them pawn their faiths, and themselves too as a security, that a firm continuance in such a pious resolution, will infallibly purchase an eternal merit, and prove a most effectual means of escaping the otherwise certain pains of purgatory.

Care must be taken to remove such ser vants particularly, as do not keep a good understanding with the Society; but let this be done by little and little; and when we have managed to work them out, let such be recommended as already are, or willingly would become our creatures; thus shall we dive into every secret, and have a finger in every affair transacted in the family.

It will be proper, every now and then, cunningly to propose to her some match, but such a one, be sure, as you know she has an aversion to; and if it be thought that she has a kindness for any one, let his vices and failings be represented to her in a proper light, that she may abhor the thoughts of alteriag her condition with any person whatsoever.

Let women that are young, and descended from rich and noble parents, be placed with those widows, that they may, by degrees, become subject to our directions and accus omed to our method of living as a governess to these, let some woman be chosen and appointed by the family confessor; let these submit to all the censures, and other customs of the Society; but such as will not conform themselves, immediately dismiss to their parents, or those who put them to us, and let them be represented as un. tractably stubborn, and of a perverse disposition.

Nor is less care to be taken of their health and recreations than of their salvation; wherefore if ever they complain of any indisposition, immediately all fasting, canvas, discipline, and other corporeal penance must be forbidden; nor let them be permitted to stir abroad even to church, but be tended at home with privacy and care. If they secretly steal into the garden, or college, seem as if you knew it not, and allow them the liberty of conversation and private diversions with those whose company is most agreeable so them.

They must be also instructed upon every occasion, that their bestowing of alms to ecclesiastics, and even to the religious of an approved and exemplary life, without the knowledge and approbation of their confessor, is not equally meritorious in the sight of God.

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

SPECULATION.

Edward was one day sitting at dinner, when his mother recollected something she had been told the day before by a lady of her acquaintance, and said:" How sorry I am to hear that Mr. L. has failed! He has lost all his property. I never knew it till yesterday. That beautiful farm where I used to go in the summer when I was a girl. O, what a sweet, pleasant place!"

"What did you use to see there?" said one of the children.

"It was by the side of a little river, and The there we used to walk by the water. mill was only a little way off. My uncle lived there; and he was always so kind, and all his family! It was sweet. O, I loved that place. The gentleman who bought it afterwards had a large family, and used to say, that he should have land But he has enough to give them all some. had to leave it. It was seized, I understand, and sold; and he is left without any property."

"O" said she to a lady who was dining with her," you remember the place as well as I do. Was it not a pleasant one?"

"O that indeed it was," replied she. "Children, you ought to be there about this season of the year, to see them catch fish. What an abundance of shad there are in that river in the spring! My uncle had a great net, and used to send men to draw it. They would catch hundreds and hundreds, and throw them up on the grass. They were so plentiful that nobody ever thought of burying or selling them. The poor people would come from four or five miles round, and take them home almost by the wagon load. Uncle would take a few first, what he wanted, and then give among the rest, as many as they wanted."

'O, is it not a pity! that beautiful place sold, and all the effect of speculation !"

"Do you know what speculation is ?" said the father, turning to one of the chil dren.

"Yes sir," said a boy on his right. "It is doing things for charity."

"You are greatly mistaken," said his father. It is rather he opposite of that. It is trying to make money very fast for ourselves. It is a selfish thing, quite so. The Bible tells us, "Wo unto him that maketh haste to be rich." I have a short about speculation. story or two to tell you You must know that, once in every few years, many of the people of our country

have a foolish turn of expecting to become very rich all at once. About twenty years ago, it was said that the price of cotton was going to rise very fast and very high in Europe. Many merchants believed it, and began to buy it. The price rose, of course, just as fast as more and more was wanted; and then the people supposed that the rising of the price proved the very thing that had been foretold. This made them still more anxious to own cotton; and those who expected to find it cheaper in other parts of the country immediately set off to pur

chase.

I happened to be travelling myself that year, and met with many of the cotton speculators, and heard them talk. Some expected to make a thousand dollars, some ten thousand, some an hundred or more; and they thought and talked about it every day, and ventured a great deal. Some borrowing all the money they could to buy more cotton-but the price fell, and many families were made suddenly poor." The Bible says:-" "He who hasteth to be rich falleth into a snare."

JUVENILE CONCERT.

We understand a group of happy little friends, had a most interesting juvenile concert, given in the Allen street church on Wednesday evening last, by Mr. L. Hart, who has been for some months the kind and gratuitous teacher of the children of that Sabbath school. Having ventured to expose himself to the winning influences of the young, he was drawn in to the regular training of a large and smiling company, in whose happiness and improvement he finds a rich reward.

"And sure it is a work of love!" Experience has taught us warmly to sympathize with him, as well as highly to ap prove, and strongly to wish that the example may be imitated wherever children are to be found. Music will attract them, as we know, from miles around-punctually at the time and place, sometimes with their parents and teachers; and they will come in good humor, and ready to learn or to do any good thing their benefactor will propose.

The excercises on the occasion above referred to were numerous and varied, with a fine piano accompaniment, by Mr. E. Howe, Jr. Admittance one shilling.-Money to purchase new books for the Sunday school library.