ton College, was to have addressed the meeting on the following resolution: Resolved, That the patrons and friends of this society should, in the exercise of a wise foresight, prepare, as far as preparation may be possible, for an extraordinary enlargement, at no distant day, of the sphere or operations, both at home and abroad. But indisposition preventing his presence, the next resolution was proposed by Hon. Emery Washburn, of Worcester, Mass., as follows: Resolved, That the general diffusion of the Holy Scriptures as an efficient measure of domestic police in a republic, deserves the countenance and support of our free institutions. Mr. Washburn sustained this resolution with great ability, and contended that our Government owed all to the influence of this and kindred societies, for the government had not the police power the intrinsic power of the police system-sufficient to support law and order for a single year. Let the influence of the Bible be withdrawn and all would soon be anarchy, confusion and outrage. Drops. The ocean is composed of drops. Small in themselves, but united they cover two thirds of the globe and bear on their bosom treasures untold. Despise not small things. A word alone may mean nothing and effect nothing; but a union of words carries joy or grief to a thousand bosoms. So small a word as we-a little drop only-might remain glued to the tongue through life and produce no good effect. But unite it to a few more words, such as, 'will do good,' and suiting the action to the words, what may it not produce? Ten thousand hearts may leap with joy at the sound. Precious drops to millions! Are there hearts full of pain and sorrow? Speak --we will do them good-tears give place to smiles-pain departs at the sight of joy, and a world of happiness is born in a day. Precious drops! we repeat. Cherish and scatter them. Like the dew that refreshes the flowers, they will be drawn to heaven by the Son of righteous. ness, to be exhibited when your account is to be squared at the last day.-SEL. When young, we trust ourselves too much, and we trust othess too little when old. Rashness is the error of youth, timi caution of age.-LACON ROGERS AND BLACK'S AMERICAN SIGNAL FLAGS AND MARINE.-We have examined the Signal book, and Marine Roll or List of vessels' names, published by these gentlemen in order to improve and facilitate the means of communication between vessels at sea and along our coasts; and find that they have succeeded in presenting the most important and simple plan with which we are familiar. Their improvements have met the approval of the Navy, War, and Treasury Departments, and we are informed that they are now furnishing the public vessels of the United States with signals and books. In the winter season, when boarding vessels is attended with danger, and when it is impossible to communicate otherwise with the shipping off our coast or at sea; this code of signals, which is simple, and abounding with all that is desirable, removes the difficulty, and therefore is indispensable. The Marine roll contains the name and port of entry of every vessel of 20 tons and upwards, registered, and enrolled in the United States, and is arranged so simply, that by the use of two, and not over three letters, painted in a sail or introduced on a flag, the name and port to which every vessel belongs can be indicated, and if they are of a proper size, may be distinguished from 10 to 15 miles. The indicating letters are arranged in the Marine roll, in alphabetical order; and each vessel's name is lettered progressively as follows. A. A. Steamer Nequassis, Eastport, Me. A. D. Brig A. E. Everton, Atchafalaya, Adamant, do. do. do. do. K.M.X. Ship It will be observed that the letters indicating the names and ports are arranged in progressive order, similar to figures, and as there are more than 14,000 vessels entered in the Marine Roll, it would require five figures opposite all names over 10,000 to indicate their names; but by combining the letters of the alphabet as we do figures, but two or three letters instead of figures are all that is required to indicate the name and port to which the vessel belongs.-N. Y. Express Ville de Lyon, N. York. This print is copied from one in Calmet's Appendix, and represents one of the most interesting species of wheat. It is of that sort which is generally supposed to have been alluded to in the Book of Genesis, which contains the account of Pharaoh's dream, where two stalks are spoken of as having seven ears each. So unlike to this are all our cereal, or grainbearing plants, that we naturally feel at a loss, in reading the passage, what idea to form of the nature and appearance of that referred to. There were undoubtedly different species of wheat cultivated in the valley of the Nile in ancient times; and that now extensively known as the 'Mummywheat,' which we have had the pleasure of sending to many of our old subscribers, was quite different from the above; closely resembling our own varieties of wheat, and differing only as a variety. Calmet cites a number of passages in the Scriptures, in which the many headed wheat seems to have been in the mind of the prophets and other Old Testament personages, who made so many appropriate figurative uses of those invaluable gifts of HIM, in whose name they spoke or wrote. Interesting and useful asso ciations should be formed in childhood and youth with the common objects of nature. This is desirable not only for our enjoyment in later life, but for the purpose of deriving from them an appropriate kind of aid, in that continual and unceasing improvement of mind and heart, which forms so large a part of the duty of life. In this point the scriptures display, in a striking manner, both the wisdom and the goodness of God; and no reader of the Bible can fail to form impressive associations, in connection. with plants of the field. The drawing was originally made from a specimen of Egyptian wheat raised in 1797, in England, on the small island of Foulness, in Essex, by Mr. Henry Fisher. Only the central ear, however, was perfect, and the others were prolonged in the drawing, to correspond with the descriptions given by persons who had seen it in an undegenerate state. It had then been cultivated by that gentleman for several years, and had produced a much greater crop than any other wheat known in England. Unfortunately the effect of climate was unfavourable, and the side ears had become reduced to mere rudi ments. THE EGYPTIAN FIG-TREE, OR SYCAMORE OF SCRIPTUre. The Ficus Sycamorus, or Egyptian Fig, is one of the species common in Palestine in ancient times, and still remaining in sufficient numbers, to excite gratifying recollections in travellers who visit that country, properly prepared by study and taste. As will be seen in the print, it differs from other fig trees in bearing its fruit on the trunk, instead of on the branches and twigs. This gives it the appearance of some of our aged and diseased willows and apple trees, whose bodies are often roughened by excrescences. As these are deformities, the first aspect of the tree above is rather repulsive to our eyes: but we may presume that to persons accustomed to regard this appearance as an indication of a fruitful tree, laden with large, ripe and rich figs, it has other associations. The following description of this tree is from Norden's Travels in Egypt, who says it is called by the Arabs 'giomez,' and is of opinion, with some other writers, that it is decidedly of the species which Zaccheus climbed, to see the Sa viour, when he was passing through Jericho, (Luke xix, 4.) "This sycamore is of the height of a beech, and bears its fruit in a manner quite different from other trees. It has them on the trunk itself, which shoots out little sprigs, in the form of a grape-stalk, at the end of which grows the fruit, close to one another, and like bunches of grapes. The tree is always green, and wears fruit several times in the year, without observing any certain seasons: for I have seen some sycamores that have fruit two months after others. The fruit has the figure and smell of real figs: but is inferior to them in taste, having a disgustful sweetness. Its color is a yellow, inclining to an ochre, shadowed by a flesh color; in the inside it resembles common figs, excepting that it has a blackish coloring, with yellow spots. This sort of tree is pretty common in Egypt. The people, for the greater part, live on its fruits." Norden represents the leaves, in his drawings, as quite small, hardly larger than the fruit. This remarkable species of ant, which unfortunately is too abundant in some parts of India, constructs habitations of wonderful size and solidity, of which we have here a representation by no means exaggerated. Smeathman, who has afforded minute information on the habits of the remarkable insect, has given the particulars which we insert below. We would remark that other species, especially one in Paraguay, seem to rival the Termes in the size of their constructions. As we have before given some facts on this subject, we will here select a point or two of a different character, referring our readers for our previous remarks, to our first volume. "Smeathman has drawn a comparison between these labours of the termes and the works of man, taking the termes labourer at one fourth of an inch long, and man at six feet high. When a termes has built one inch, or four times its height, it is equivalent to twenty-four feet, or four times the height of man. One inch of the termes' building being proportionate to twenty-four feet of human building, twelve inches, or one foot, of the former must be proportionate to twelve times twenty-four, or two hundred and eightyeight feet, of the latter; consequently, when the white ant has built one foot, it has, in point of labour, equalled the exertions of a man who has built two hundred and eighty-eight feet; but as the ant hills are ten feet high, it is evident that human beings must produce a work of two thousand eight hundred and eighty feet in height, to compete with the industry of their brother insect. The Great Pyramid is about one-fifth of this height; and as the solid contents of the ant hill are in the same proportion, they must equally surpass the solid contents of that ancient wonder of the world. Every one of these bills consists of two distinct parts, the exterior and the interior. The exterior consists of one shell formed in the manner of a dome, large and strong enough to enclose and shelter the interior from the vicissitudes of the weather, and the inhabitants from the attacks of natural or accidental enemies. It is therefore, in every instance, much stronger than the interior of the building, which, being the habitable part, is divided, with a wonderful degree of regularity and contrivance, into an amazing number of apartments for the residence of the king and queen, and the nursing of their numerous progeny; or appropriated as magazines, to hold provisions. These hills make their first appearance above ground by a little turret or two in the shape of sugar-loaves, rising a foot or more in height. Soon after, at some little distance, while the first turrets are increasing in height and size, the insects raise others, and so go on, increasing their number, and widening their bases, till the space occupied by their under-ground works becomes covered with a series of these elevations; the centre turret is always the highest; the intervals between the turrets are then filled up, and the whole collected, as it were, under one dome. These interior turrets seem to be intended chiefly as scaffolding for the dome; for they are, in a great part, removed when that has been erected. When these hills have reached somewhat more than half their height, they furnish a convenient stand, where the wild bulls may be seen to station themselves. [To be Continued. A Year Abroad. AIX LA CHAPELLE. After breakfast we set out in search of our passports, having no great desire to partake of the hospitality of a German jailer, and, after a deal of asking, came to the market place, which was filled with peasants, in such picturesque costumes that I was inclined to think some general masquerade was going on. Each stand was protected from the weather by a gigantic umbrella, at least ten feet in diameter, and all the produce was brought in from the country on the backs of small donkeys, driven by rosy-cheeked, fairhaired girls, who were patterns of buxom health, but lacked that graceful manner which is displayed by the poorest peasant lass of France. In the centre of the square is a noble fountain, surmounted by a bronze statue of Charlemagne, flanked, on either side, by an imperial eagle, and opposite to it is the 'Rathhaus,' or town hall, erected on the site of the palace in which he was born. We received our passports in a dirty room, whose roof had once been beautifully painted in fresco, and had a hearty laugh at a celebrated Parisian tailor, who, having neg lected to obtain the required 'visée' of a Prussian minister, before entering the kingdom, had been arrested. All that seemed to trouble him was, the mortifying fact that the name Hamn had never reached the ears of the functionary, to whom he cavalierly remarked that he believed Rothschild was in the city, and, if so, they had only to apply to him for satisfactory information. Leaving the sufferer in the fast custody of a file of Prussian soldiers, who seemed like so many machines, we mounted to the third story, to visit the historical saloon, where the old German Emperors used to receive the homage of their subjects, and where several important treaties have been signed, in modern times. The building also contains a gallery of paintings, some of which are of great value, particularly, portraits of Napoleon and Josephine, painted by David, the best extant, presented by the Emperor to the city; and a picture by Holbein, representing the last judgment. The painter was married three times, and has introduced all his spouses in the picture-the first writhing in the flames below, the second awaiting her judgment on earth, and the third mounting with him to heaven. ་ From the Rathhaus' we threaded our way through narrow streets to the Cathedral, a quaint old specimen of Byzantine and early Saxon architecture, clustered in octagonal chapelle,' built by Charlemagne, for his burial place, in imitation of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusa]: m. It was consecrated in the year 804, by Pope Leo III. with an attendant train of 365 bishops, one for every day in the year; but, on the evening before the ceremony, it was discovered that two of the prelates had not arrived, and it was feared that the grand effect would be marred. The next morning, says the chronicle sold at the cathedral, by authority, magnificent processions swept through the carpetted streets, perfumed with incense and resounding with music; rich silken banners floated in the breeze, some displaying the red cross, others the Templars' symbol, and all crowned with dainty devices, of rare workmanship; the fountains flowed with ruddy Burgundy, and pink champaigne, creaming and sparkling in the sunshine, played aloft in various designs, and fell spontaneously into the open mouths of passing plebeians. In the church were the assembled chivalry and beauty of the world, knights and dames, helmets and silken scarfs, priests, precious relics and jewels. Soon the music pealed forth, and the procession entered, in goodly array, the Pope seating himself on a purple throne, three steps above that of the princely Charlemagne, and looking around with a vexed air, on account of the vacancies. Judge his joy when, in the two stalls which he expected to find empty, he saw the deceased bishops of Syracuse and Palermo, who had been miraculously raised from their graves and sent to aid the successor of St. Peter--the Te Deum thundered along the aisles, and when the ceremony was completed the ghostly assis tants had disappeared. On entering the church we saw, hanging from the centre of the dome, a massive silver gilt chandelier, in the shape of an imperial crown, and under it, on a level with the pavement, a large marble slab, upon which is simply inscribed CAROLO MAGNO. a lesson which appears to have even touched the heart of Napoleon, who, the garrulous sexton informed us, paced slowly around the stone, and then stood |