that there must be a magnificent view from the top of the Library towers-then in process of erection. No sooner did the thought strike my mind, than I turned my steps thitherward, determined to enjoy at once the fresh morning air from that elevated position, and the feast of vision spread out below. I pictured to myself, as I walked along, the neat white dwellings of the citizens, embowered in the thick foliage of lofty elms; the tall spires of God's churches pointing upward to that other paradise in the sky above; the lovely gardens and tasteful pleasure-grounds which adorn the suburbs of the city; and imagination soon revealed to my view the bold faces of Sassacus and the Regicide looming up in the distance, their dim and indistinct outlines scarce able to be traced in the gray light of morning. Far off in another direction I seemed to see the blue expanse of ocean, glittering in the beams of the rising sun; its azure surface dotted here and there by the white sheet of some 66 great merchantman." Beautiful was the picture, as I saw it in imagination. Far more beautiful I knew it would be, when I could take in at a single glance, trees, dwellings, rocks, and waters. With slow and careful steps I commenced the ascent. The long ladders shook backward and forward at every step, but from my boyhood I was an experienced climber, and I fearlessly "looked aloft." I gained at length the topmost round, and the first object which met my astonished eyes, was the form of an old revolutionary veteran, then, I believe, over ninety years of age! He stood calmly on the top of the tower, apparently gazing from the dizzy height with feelings akin to rapture. He had "taken the opportunity, early in the morning, before the workmen assembled, to ascend the tower, and feast his eyes on the rich inheritance he was so soon to leave to posterity." Rich indeed, thought I, and well may you look upon it with joy, my father, for to you and your compatriots do we owe this goodly heritage!

EDITORS' TABLE.

THE nones of July! what a season for hand-work or head-work! It makes us perspire just to think of it! We are in the habit of constantly perusing Thompson's vivid description of "Winter,” and sleeping in an ice-house to prevent ourselves from evaporating in attenuated gas. We write beneath the sweltering heat of a vertical sun, and, under the circumstances, if any one could summon the energy to go into literary labors more in extenso than we have done, why he ought to undertake, in the Summer season, the performance of the four cardinal duties laid down by Sterne. We do not, on this occasion, address you in propria persona through the medium of the leading article in the Magazine, as is our wont; but the present number is not an earnest of those which are to come, with respect to the editorial department. In the present case we have stepped aside from the beaten path, for the purpose of breaking the monotony of custom, as discords are introduced in music to prevent harmony from becoming wearisome by being unvaried.

Many topics urge themselves upon us; but you see, dear reader, that we are limited

to a very small space. We had purposed to give you another peep into our literary Pandemonium, where your Editors, like Prometheus of old, are chained to their table, placed there in the attempt to supply fuel to the spark of fire which he stole from heaven. You doubtless think our path is strewn with flowers, but

"I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word

Would harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood;
Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres;

Thy knotted and combined locks to part,

And each particular hair to stand on end,

Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."

Soda-water, ice-cream, and woodcock suppers are words not found in our vocabulary. We deal entirely with types and shadows and devils. We spend our days in reading and our nights in reflection for your benefit. Ephraim is carefully laid away on the "tip eend" of a pitchfork, to wait his turn in administering to your amusement. Judge B****, an intimate acquaintance of his, at present represents him in the editorial corps. The Judge personates Cerberus when in his own peculiar sphere. Eph's boots have recently fallen into the consumption, by reason of which he is sore with tribulation. Soleae requiescant in pace. The remainder of the corps are enjoying good health and spirits. Our Treasurer, or, as Lean Jack would say, if he was here, our Munn-y man, will give you ocular demonstration, in a short time, that this is the case so far as he is concerned. There! as sure as a gun we have made a pun on our friend Munn; but then it was done merely in fun. Don't imagine, however, that we are a "funny feller;" if you do, we say, in the decided language of Mrs. Jones, "We're not the individual you took us for!" Then, dear reader, for the present we must bid you

Farewell! a word that must be and hath been

A sound which makes us linger;-yet-farewell!

The Faculty have awarded the usual prizes, as follows:

IN THE SOPHOMORE CLASS, FOR ENGLISH COMPOSITION.

First Division. First prize: Cyprian G. Webster, Mobile, Ala. Second: John Ferree Brinton, Lancaster Co., Pa. Third: G. Buckingham Willcox, Norwich. Second Division.-First prize: William Aitchison, Norwich. Second: E. B. Hillard, Norwich. Third: Henry Taylor Blake, New Haven.

Third Division-First prize: Homer N. Dunning, Peekskill, N. Y. Second: Henry Blodget, Bucksport, Me. Third: Henry M. Colton, Lockport, N. Y.

PRIZES AWARDED IN THE SOPHOMORE CLASS FOR THE SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS. First prize: Samuel Emerson, Andover, Mass., and Isaac S. Newton, Sherburne, N. Y. Second: Caleb Lamson, Hamilton, Mass., and John P. Hubbard, Boston, Mass. Third: John Ferree Brinton, Lancaster Co., Pa., Homer N. Dunning, Peekskill, N. Y., and Henry Blodget, Bucksport, Me.

PRIZES AWARDED IN THE FRESHMAN CLASS FOR LATIN TRANSLATIONS. First Division.-First prize: Israel N. Smith, Bradford, N. H. Second: Franklin A. Durkee, Binghamton, N. Y., and La Fayette Twitty, Rutherfordton, N. C. Third: H. M. Haskell, Dover, N. H., and George M. Ruffin, Marengo Co., Ala. Second Division.-First prize: Elial F. Hall, Carroll, N. Y. Second: Charles G. Came, Buxton, Me. Third: Augustus Brandegee, New London.

Third Division-First prize: Franklin W. Fisk, Hopkinton, N. H., and Albert Hobron, New London. Second: B. H. Colegrove, Pomfret, and Charles J. Hutchins, Waterford, Pa. Third: Curtiss T. Woodruff, New Haven.

PRIZES AWARDED IN THE FRESHMAN CLASS FOR THE SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS First prize: Osborn Keeler, Chautauque, N. Y., and Hugh A. Peters, Webster, Mass. Second: Joseph Hurlbut, New London, and Israel N. Smith, Bradford, N. H. Third: Edwin A. Buck, Bucksport, Me., and Tinothy Dwight, Norwich.

[For the history of the Townsend Premium, our readers are referred to No. 9, Vol. IX. of the Magazine.-ED.]

SCEPTICISM.

BY CHARLES LORING BRACE, HARTFORD, CONN.

It seems strange that any man could have ever doubted the existence of a God. It seems strange that a man could go abroad into a world like ours, could enjoy its countless pleasures and gaze upon the objects of beauty and contrivance and power around him, and yet say, that all these had no Maker, no Contriver. Yet there have been many such in the world's history, and these not among the savage, the ignorant, or the unreflecting part of mankind.

No. Among the first feelings of the uneducated mind, are those of reverence and worship. With the savage, the first emotion, as he enjoys the pure air and bright sunlight of heaven, is gratitude to these, as to living beings; and the fresh breeze of the morning, the happy sunlight, the moon, as it casts its mild ray round his path by night, become his deities. Or, it may be, with a more spiritual worship, he ascribes every beauty and pleasure to some "Great Spirit," pervading all that he sees and feels. And let no man say such worship is the fruit of ignorance! It was a grand Inference, which the savage had drawn from the bright world around him, and that act of adoration was the first simple offering of gratitude from a reasoning mind to its unseen Maker.

How happens it that this, almost the first act of reason in minds darkened by ignorance, should be the last in some of the brightest, most gifted intellects, earth has ever seen? How happens it that men of tender feelings, of clear, acute judgments, of high powers of observation, have rejected the Christian belief-a belief at once so con