find abundant reason to admire the wisdom and adore the goodness displayed in the provision made for the protection and defence of a creature so helpless, and yet exposed to so many dangers. Appearing first in the egg-organ as a small yellow globe it gradually increases in size till it drops into the egg-tube, but as yet without the white and the shell, and destitute of any covering but a slight thin membrane; here by a process not less rapid than beautiful, coating after coating is formed, until at length the shell is completed and the egg comes forth in its perfect shape. The embryo bird is now contained in the cicatricula, a little vesicle or bag which is found at the surface of the yolk, when the hen sits upon the egg the heat of her body causes an entire change in its form, and developes the action of the vital principle within,-blood vessels are soon seen issuing from either side, which, being divided into numerous smaller branches, each one connected with a vessel carrying yolk, minister to the sustenance and growth of the chick. It is obvious therefore, that during the period of incubation, the embryo should be kept near the breast of the parent hen in order that it may enjoy the warmth of her body. Now, the vesicle in which it is contained, being placed at the surface of the yolk, a globe of nutritious matter, it is evident, that had the axis of this globe been in its centre, it would not have changed its position in consequence of any change in the situation of the egg, and must therefore often have fallen to the cold bottom of the nest, where the embryo would inevitably have perished. engraving at the head of the article represents the contrivance by which this has been avoided, the axis cc on which the globe revolves being placed below the centre, every alteration in the posture of the egg necessarily causes it to change, and being lighter than the surrounding white AA, it revolves so as to bring the vesicle always to the upper part of the yolk B and near the shell.

The

Could the wisdom of Jehovah have been more strikingly manifested than in a provision so simple and yet so effectual, and could we desire plainer proof that there is a God who ruleth in the world? J. G. R.

Trinity College, Dublin.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND CONVICTS.

Of all the convicts at Botany Bay, on a recent investigation, only one had ever been a Sunday scholar.

AFFECTIONATE TEACHERS.

In one school the teachers agreed to make a general exchange of classes, in order to awaken a deeper interest. To effect this change, they took a list of the teachers, and went to class No. 1, and requested the scholars to select their teacher from that list. In this way they passed through the school, requesting each class in numerical order, till they came to the last, to choose their teacher. While a certain class were making their choice, one of the scholars said, 'I want Mr. for our teacher.'

Why do you want him?' inquired one of his class

mates.

'Because he always talks to his class till he weeps.'

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES.

The following extract from a paper on Domestic Schools, by President Lindsley, of the Nashville University, is taken from the American Annals of Education for March, 1836. We are sure the principle cannot be too widely made known, and we consider it especially adapted for those adult classes which are connected with many Sunday schools, and ought to be connected with all.

"The first and most important acquisition which a child ever makes, next to that of articulate speech is the art of reading. The second in importance is writing; and the third is the knowledge of figures, or common arithmetic. It is certainly desirable that all our youth of both sexes should be instructed in these three useful arts, at the least. But, in no case ought a child to be suffered to grow up amongst us without being taught to read. Can this be done without public schools. I believe it may; and I will tell you how.

If, in any family there be one individual who can read, that individual could, without serious interruption or detriment to any ordinary occupation, teach all the other members of the said family, old and young, to read also. If, in every settlement or vicinage, consisting of a dozen or twenty individuals or families, there be one who can read, that one could teach all the others in like manner to read. Let voluntary associations, or classes, of from six to twenty persons, (the members for instance, of one family, or of several contiguous families,) be formed, and let them agree to meet twice or thrice a week, for one or two hours, as their numbers or convenience may suggest, to learn to read. And not many weeks or months will elapse before all will be readers.

In order to learn to read, it is by no means indispensable that the long, tedious method of the schools for children should be adopted, The process may be rendered extremely simple and easy; it is not necessary to commence even with the alphabet, or to go through a course of spelling in Dilworth or Webster.

Adults have been recently taught to read in penitentiaries and elsewhere in a very short period, even within one or two weeks in some cases, who previously did not know a letter. The chaplain or teacher opens his bibledirects the eyes of his pupil to the first verse of the first chapter-reads it distinctly-points out each word to the learner, and makes him repeat it, and so on to the end of the verse. In a few minutes the pupil can read the verse backwards or forwards. He now knows the words by their phasis or appearance in the book.

6

Here perhaps the teacher stops awhile, and analyzes a word, naming each letter according to its proper sound, and presently the pupils will distinguish and name the letters also. They then proceed to another verse, and to another; and by and by the division of words into syllables is explained, or the syllabic analysis may precede the alphabetical-and thus the whole mystery of learning to read is dispelled, and it becomes an affair of a few days or hours. If convicts in a penitentiary who are compelled to labour from morning to night, and to be shut up in solitary cells from sun down till daylight can find time to acquire from the lips of charity so invaluable an art, will it be pretended that our free and happy labourers could not spare time for the same purpose? And will none among themselves be willing to officiate as guides?

That all this and more is practicable is perfectly known from well authenticated facts officially before the public— from the testimony of scores of our contemporaries and countrymen, grounded upon their own observation and experience. Many children also, have been taught to read in this manner, by individuals who had never heard of M. Jacotot, and long before he was born. By him indeed, the method, with certain modifications has been announced to the world as a grand discovery; and it constitutes the first stage in the process of his ingenious and greatly admired system of instruction. Let every teacher however do the best he can.

'Let him adapt his mode of instruction to the circumstances of his pupils. He will succeed upon any plan,

within some three or six months in teaching his class or company to read. Were such a system to be put. immediately and universally into operation in Tennessee, there would not be an individual between the ages of six and four-score, incapable of reading at the end of a year throughout the State. Not a dollar is wanted for the purpose; any books will answer; any place will do; an hour of any day or evening will suffice.

'Now if there be but one intelligent, patriotic, benevolent individual in each district, town, or country, who will undertake to enlighten the people on this subject, and persuade them to co-operate in this good work of self-instruction, it will be speedily accomplished. Sunday schools. judiciously conducted, in all parts of the country, would certainly and easily effect the same object.

CURIOUS FACT.

Dr. J. P. Smith, in a recent lecture on Geology, mentions that the Missisippi river, which runs from north to south, is in its mouth four times higher than its source; a result produced by the centrifugal motion of the earth. Thirteen miles is the difference between the equatorial and polar radius, and the river in two thousand miles has to rise onethird of this distance, it being the height of the equator above the pole. If this centrifugal force were not continued the river would flow back and the ocean would overflow the land.

The morn has but just looked out and smiled,
When he starts from his humble grassy nest,
And is up and away, with the dew on his breast,

And a hymn in his heart, to yon pure bright sphere,
To warble it out in his Maker's ear.-

Ever, my child, be thy morning lays

Tun'd, like the lark's, to thy Maker's praise.

What is that, mother?'

The dove, my son !

And that low, sweet voice, like a widow's moan,
Is flowing out from her gentle breast,

Constant and pure, by that lonely nest,

As the wave is poured from some chrystal urn,
For her distant dear one's quick return. -

Ever, my son, be thou like the dove;

In friendship as faithful, as constant in love!

'What is that, mother?'

The eagle, boy!

Proudly careering his course of joy;

Firm, on his own mountain vigour relying,
Breasting the dark storm, the red bolt defying-
His wing on the wind, and his eye in the sun,
He swerves not a hair, but bears onward, right on.-
Boy, may the eagle's flight ever be thine,
Onward, and upward, and true to the line.

'What is that, mother?'

The swan, my love!

He is floating down from his native grove,
No loved one now, no nestling nigh,

He is floating down by himself to die.
Death darkens his eye, and unplumes his wings,
Yet his sweetest song is the last he sings.-

Live so, my love, that when death shall come,
Swan-like and sweet, it may waft thee home.

LINES,

Written on occasion of the departure of Mr. & Mrs. KIDD, to Malacca.

THE LATE REV. PROFESSOR KIDD.

It will be interesting to our readers to know that the lamented Rev. Samuel Kidd, Professor of Chinese, whose sudden death took place on Monday, the 12th of June, 1843, was a devoted Sunday school teacher. The following verses were written by a friend, on the occasion of his departure to Malacca, and sung at a meeting of the teachers of Fish-street chapel Sabbath school, Hull, April 27th, 1824, with which institution both Mr. and Mrs. Kidd had long been connected. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. Joseph Gilbert, now of Nottingham, and addressed by the late William Rust, Esq., and other friends. These circumstances are another honourable testimony that Sabbath schools are nurseries for the church of Christ, and eminently designed to raise up faithful and laborious missionaries to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world.

Inspired with warm and feeling heart,

We bid a long adieu;

Anxious to act a Christian part,

We think and pray for you.

That God, to you, to them, is love,
And will his followers own.

Should darkness for a time prevail,
And gloomy clouds arise;

When launched upon the mighty deep, Your God, your help, will never fail,

To leave your native shore,

We'll ask Jehovah still to keep

And guard you evermore.

May winds propitious waft the bark
That bears you far away;

Secure, like Noah in the ark;
Like him, feel no dismay.

Thus borne across the extended main,
To India's distant shore,
To tread Malacca's sultry plain,
And the wild waste explore.

May your united efforts prove,
To thousands yet unknown,

Hope-till the day arrive.

And may you feel religion's power

In every clime and place;

Its value to your dying hour,
And sing redeeming grace.

Should we in Britain meet again,

To join in prayer and praise; [strain,
Our hearts shall swell the grateful
And cheerful songs we'll raise.

But, if on earth we meet no more,
May we in heaven appear;

And join the saints on Canaan's shore,
And live for ever there.