in nineteen, r in seven! Some of these combinations are amusingly extravagant; for if that word were spelt schiesourrhce, it may be replied that it is justifiable, the different parts being found in the words schism, sieve, as, honour, myrrh, sacrifice. Truly, if there is system in our orthography, it is a system of blunders. If, however, we are satisfied that the present plan of orthography is thus defective, and are convinced that change is necessary, the question arises, In what manner can it be accomplished? It may be answered, that a system termed Phonotypy has been prepared, through the persevering efforts of Mr. Isaac Pitman, of Bath, assisted by the "The Phonotypic Council." The principle acted on is, that the primary object of spelling is, to give the sounds of words as they are uttered. It is, therefore, necessary, that every primary sound should have a representing character, which shall be inseparable from it, and that it should be used in no modified form. It has been found that forty characters will perform this office, so that while superfluous letters are omitted, every simple sound has its representative. Thus the sounds ch, sh, gh, zh, th, ng, and among the vowel sounds, au, oo, and ah ought to have single forms, as they are simple, primary sounds. By this arrangement there is certainty instead of vagueness, and a plain, straight road instead of a devious and rugged passage. So great are the advantages afforded by this plan, that children of six years of age can learn to read in a week, thus reducing the arts of reading and writing to a subsidiary position; so that they may be regarded as containing no learning in themselves, and as being the commencement, and not the end of education, as it is with so many. A short time ago, it was stated in the public that an interesting attempt papers, to teach a class of unlettered adults to read by means of the new system of phonotypy was made by Mr. Benn Pitman, in connexion with the City of Westminster Temperance Society. The class consisted of about forty, thirty of whom were unable to read. After receiving fifteen hours' instruction, those members of the class who, previously to its commencement, could not read at all, read simple language with tolerable fluency. At the eighteenth lesson, an examination took place, when the members of the class went through the elementary sounds and articulations of language, forming the phonetic alphabet, with remarkable precision. According to the same plan, those who can read on the ordinary system will be able to learn the phonetic style in a few minutes. Nor are these the only advantages; the spelling of words will be as easy and as certain as the reading of them; no doubt will be experienced as to the proper accentuation of any word, while foreigners will be able to read as correctly, though not with as much facility, as ourselves, which will render the English language, one of the simplest in its grammatical structure, accessible to the world. Such are some of the benefits arising from the introduction of the Phonetic system, and it will be well next to notice the objections which naturally arise in the mind to its adoption. It may, perhaps, be truly said, for example, that the literature now in use would be rendered useless. But when we consider the magnitude of the advantages to be gained, the years of time and labour that are saved, and the expense that is avoided, this objection cannot be successfully urged, especially when it is remembered that it is ordinarily estimated that the whole literature of the present day will soon have passed into a new edition; and such is the progress of the nation, that a book of ten years standing on many subjects, is regarded as one of doubtful authority. Only let readers be obtained, and the interest of publishers will induce them to furnish a sufficiency of books. Publications in phonotypy are already abroad in considerable numbers, and a large part of the New Testament has been printed in the Phonetic characters on the same plan, while the sale of the periodicals testifies that there are both purchasers and readers. If the inconsistencies of the present orthography are as glaring, and the advantages of the proposed system are as great as have been represented, the cause of phonotypy is worth helping. It is calculated, indeed, greatly to influence the education of the million of children who, in Great Britain and the United States, annually appear on the stage of life, and for whom knowledge must be provided. Shall these be furnished with the rudiments of education by a wandering and tedious path-shall they grapple with false and contradictory notions, or rapidly proceed over a plain and consistent course? There are tens of thou sands, who, if the present system is per- | reign, the God of Zion. severed in, will never learn to read; while if the facilities now descanted on are afforded, they will delight to avail themselves of them. Only let the phonetic schoolmaster proceed to enlighten their minds, and it will not be the fault of the system, if there is a man or woman in the country who cannot read. The causes of civilization and of religion, demand that this subject should have a fair and candid examination by all, and the result must be beneficial. With ourselves it lies, to give to all some of that treasure of knowledge which we enjoy, and which, while it blesses them, will but augment our own possessions. THE GOSPEL. W. CHRIST, in publishing the gospel to mankind, appears invested with supreme amiableness and beauty. No attribute which forms, no action which becomes, the perfect character, is wanting in him. With all things in his hands, with all excellence and enjoyment in his mind, he pitied us, miserable worms of the dust; descended from heaven, became man, lived, and died, and rose again, that we might live for ever. With his own voice he proclaimed the very things which he has done and suffered, and the infinite blessings which in this manner he has purchased for mankind. There is now, he cries, "glory to God in the highest," while there is " peace on earth, and good-will towards men." In this ruined world, so long enveloped in darkness, so long deformed by sin, so long wasted by misery, where guilt, and sorrow, and suffering have spread distress without control, and mourning without hope; where war and oppression have ravaged without, and remorse and despair consumed within; where Satan has "exalted his throne above the stars of God," while its sottish millions have bent before him in religious worship; in this ruined world, where, since the apostasy, real good was never found, and where tidings of such good were never proclaimed; even here, I announce the tidings of expiated sin, a pardoning God, a renewing Spirit, an opening heaven, and a dawning immortality. Here peace anew shall lift her olive branch over mankind. Here salvation from sin and woe shall anew be found; and here God shall dwell and "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden; and I will give you rest." "Incline your ear, and hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." "The Spirit of Jehovah is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and a bride adorneth herself with jewels." Every messenger of good news is, of course, desirable and lovely in the eyes of those who are deeply interested; and a part of that lustre, belonging to the tidings themselves, is, by a natural association, diffused around him by whom they are borne; especially because he is regarded as voluntarily announcing good to us, and as rejoicing in our joy. How glorious, how lovely, then, does Christ appear, when coming with all the inherent splendour and beauty of his character, and the transcendent dignity of his station, to proclaim to us tidings infinitely desirable, of good infinitely necessary and infinitely great! Men to him were wholly unnecessary. Had all their millions been blotted out of the kingdom of God, they would not even have left a blank in the creation. With a word he could have formed, of the stones of the street, other millions, wiser, better, and happier; more dutiful, and more desirable. How divinely amiable does he appear, when the tidings which he brings are tidings of his own arduous labours on our behalf, and of his own unexampled sufferings; labours and sufferings, without which good tidings could never have reached us, and real good never been found in this miserable world! How divinely amiable does he appear, when, notwithstanding the apostasy and guilt of the race of Adam, he came, of his own accord, to publish these tidings of immortal good to rebels and enemies; and, while proclaiming them, "rejoiced in the habitable parts of the earth," and found "his delights with the sons of men." What, then, must be the guilt, what the debasement, of those who are regardless of the glorious declarations, hostile to the benevolent designs, and insensensible to the perfect character of this Divine herald! How blind, and deaf, and stupid must they be to all that is beautiful, engaging, and lovely! How grovelling must be their moral taste! How wonderful their neglect of their own well-being! How evidently is their ingratitude "as the sin of witchcraft, and their stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry!" Were these tidings to be proclaimed in hell itself, one can scarcely fail to imagine, that all the malice, impiety, and blasphemy in that dreary world would be suspended, that fiends would cease to conflict with fiends, that sorrow would dry the stream of neverending tears, that remorse would reverse and blunt his stings, that despair would lift up his pale front with a commencing smile, that the prisoners of wrath (then "prisoners of hope") would shake their chains with transport, and that all the gloomy caverns would echo to the sounds of gratitude and joy. In our own world, once equally hopeless, these tidings are actually proclaimed. What must be the spirit of those who refuse to hear! But, oh, ye followers of the Divine and compassionate Saviour, infinitely different is the wisdom displayed by you! When this Divine Messenger proclaims to you peace and salvation; when he informs you that he has died, that you may live; when he demands of you cordially to embrace his atonement, and accept his intercession; you cheerfully hear, believe, and obey. Conscious of your own guilty character and ruined condition, you have yielded yourself to him with all the heart, in the humble, amiable, and penitent exercise of faith and love, and finally chosen him as your own Saviour. On your minds his image is instamped; in your life his beauty shines with real, though feeble, radiance; in your character his loveliness is begun; in your souls his immortality is formed. On you his Father smiles, a forgiving God. On you his Spirit descends, with his sanctifying and dove-like influence. To you his word unfolds all his promises, his daily favour, his everlasting love. To you hell is barred, and all its seducing and destroying inhabitants confined in chains. Heaven for you has already opened its "everlasting doors; and "the King of glory" has "entered in," to "prepare a place for you." The joy of that happy world has been already renewed over your repentance. The Spirit of truth conducts you daily onward in your journey through life, and in your way towards your final home. Death, your last enemy, is to you deprived of its strength and sting, and the grave despoiled of its victory. Your bodies will soon be "sown" in the "corruption, weakness, and dishonour," of your present perishable nature, to be "raised" in the "incorruption, power, and glory" of immortality. Your souls, cleansed from every sin, and stain, and weakness, this Divine Messenger will present before the throne of his Father, "without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing," to be acquitted, approved, and blessed. In the world of light, and peace, and joy, enlarged with knowledge, and refined with evangelical virtue, he will unite you to "the general assembly of the first-born," and "to the innumerable company of angels;" will make you "sons, and priests, and kings to God," and cause you to "live and reign with him for ever and ever." "All things" will then be " yours;" you will be "Christ's, and Christ" will be "God's." Anticipate, and by anticipation enjoy to the full, this divine assemblage of blessings; they are your birthright. But, while you enjoy them, deeply pity and fervently pray for your foolish, guilty, and miserable companions. Dwight. VISITS. How much good may be done by visits! It would be well to make a rule that they should be useful, even if they were made only for politeness or pleasure: it is easy to take the occasion of dropping a word or two which may tend to edification. This rule may be observed in the visits we receive, as well as those we make. Peter Martyr, having passed many days in the house of Bucer, declared that, during the whole time, he had not risen from the table without having learned something. EXCELLENCE. EXCELLENCE is providentially placed beyond the reach of indolence, that success may be the reward of industry, and that idleness may be punished with obscurity and disgrace. Cowper. DUBLIN AND ITS ENVIRONS. With a EVERY visitor to the "Emerald Isle" is struck with the admirable taste evinced by the founders of its capital, in selecting the spot on which it stands as the site of a great city. Of the three metropolises of the United Kingdom, Dublin unquestionably bears the palm for beauty of situation, and for the judicious grouping of its chief objects of interest. noble background of mountains, which may be seen from some of the streets of the city; with the Liffey running direct through the heart of it, dividing the finest promenades of the place; the quays, on which are found some of the noblest public buildings; while over the river are thrown a succession of elegant and ornamental bridges, five of them of stone; with its beautiful environs of varied scenery, so retired and rural, that it is difficult to conceive of being within a few minutes' walk of bustling and noisy AUGUST, 1847. streets; and to crown all, with the waves of the Irish sea rolling almost up to the quays, girt in on the north by the huge Hill of Howth, and curving beautifully towards the south, as far as Dalkey Island, itself overshadowed by the cliffs overhanging Killiney Bay-Dublin fearlessly challenges comparison with any of our great cities, both for its natural and artificial attractions. Its principal streets are Sackvillestreet, one of the finest in Europe for width, with the Nelson column standing in the midst of it, not far from the Post-office, and terminating with the Lying-in Hospital and the Rotunda This latter edifice is appropriated to public meetings and exhibitions; and here, until the Repeal movement lately led them to Conciliation Hall, the Irish orators made some of their most eloquent displays. At a short distance from this building are the Linen Hall, King's Inns, the House of Industry, and the hospitals attached to it; the Richmond | the best view in the city. From the Bridewell and Penitentiary, and other King's-bridge, a very handsome strucreformatory places. College-green is dig- ture, not far from the entrance to the nified by the most splendid edifice in Phoenix-park, erected in commemoration Dublin, the Bank of Ireland; which was of the visit of George Iv. to Ireland, originally erected for the meeting of the up to Carlisle-bridge, which terminates Irish parliament, previous to the Union. Sackville-street, there is a succession of It is well worthy the minute inspection fine buildings, gracing the noblest proof every one who makes any pretension menade in the United Kingdom. The to architectural taste, and cannot fail to sides of the river, for nearly the whole excite the greatest admiration, by its length from the King's-bridge, are cased beauty and elegance. with stone, and capped with a fine granite parapet, about three feet high. At the entrance of the Military-road, and close to Bloody-bridge, an old structure, that has figured in some of the sad transactions of past troublous times, as its name imports, is a handsome Gothic gateway. On the other side is the very extensive range of the royal barracks; and behind them rises the stunted tower of the Bluecoat-school; further on, on the southern quay, may be seen the domicile of the White Quakers, with huge unadorned pillars in front of the building, which had been a hotel. Beyond this, on the opposite quay, is a beautiful Roman Catholic church, dedicated to some saint, whose name I forget; and near to that the "Four Courts, a noble edifice, and one of the principal "lions” of Dublin. At the time of my visit to it, it was thronged with barristers, the great majority of whom seemed to have nothing to do, except to exercise their wit on every acquaintance they met. On the seaward side of Carlisle-bridge lay the shipping; and at a short distance from it stands the Custom-house, a very handsome building, with a lofty dome, surmounted by a figure of Hope leaning on her anchor. It was a very different scene that presented itself here from that which strikes the visitor to the Customhouse in London or Liverpool. It seemed as if clerks and porters had little or nothing to do; and one felt a little startled with the ominous stillness of such a place. Opposite to the bank is Trinity College, the seat of the only university of which Ireland can boast, On the right and left of the quadrangle, as soon as the entrance gate is passed, are the Examination Hall and the chapel; and beyond them, on the southern side, is the magnificent library belonging to the college, containing 150,000 volumes. I spent a delightful morning in strolling through this building, in company with a learned friend, a minister in Dublin; and especially in looking at some of its rare manuscripts. The principal one, however, that known to scholars as the "Codex Montfortianus," which has acquired a great deal of celebrity, because it is considered to be the only manuscript containing the long-contested passage in 1 John v. 7, 8, was not in the case at the time of my visit. The fellows of this college have a privilege, which is not granted to either of the English universities, that of retaining their fellowships after marriage. This has been awarded to them by the permission of our present queen, who has also conferred upon this institution sundry other advantages. Opposite to this collegiate pile is Damestreet, along which the visitor passes to the castle, a heavy-looking range of buildings, occupying the sides of two quadrangles. This place is used on state occasions, and is, in fact, the Whitehall of Dublin, containing the offices of the different governmental departments. The Birmingham tower is the most ancientlooking part of the structure. Not far from this is the Royal Exchange, a handsome and imposing building. Southward and westward of the exchange are the two cathedrals of St. Patrick and Christchurch, neither of them at all remarkable for beauty or grandeur, and both situated in or near the "Liberties of Dublin," where filth and squalid wretchedness abound to a most fearful extent. Turning northwards, and arriving at the quays, there is obtained by far The squares in Dublin are not many; Merrion, Rutland, Mountjoy, Fitzwilliam, and St. Stephen's-green, are the principal. The latter is nearly a mile in extent. There are some handsome gardens: those near Leinster House, now occupied by the Royal Dublin Society in Kildare-street; the grounds of Trinity College; the Botanic Garden of the fellows, south-east of the city; the Botanic Garden at Glasnevin, two miles from Dublin-a beautiful spot, with a ceme |