forming what is called a plexus of nerves; and pain is only felt when some of these are wounded or irritated. So that when we feel the pain commonly called tooth-ach, the tooth, being a bone, is not susceptible of feeling, but the nerve attached to it is extremely sensible, and occasions us to feel the most acute pain when it is irritated.

In thus diffusing the sense of feeling over the whole body, the Creator has evidently had our well-being in view. The other senses are situated in those parts where they can most conveniently perform their functions. And as it was necessary for the preservation and welfare of the whole body, that each of its parts should be informed of what might be useful or prejudicial, agreeable or disagreeable, it was necessary that the sense of feeling should be diffused over every part of the body. It is a still farther proof of Divine wisdom, that several species of animals have the sense of feeling more acute than falls to the lot of men; for their acuteness of feeling is necessary in their mode of life, and compensates their deprivation of some other senses. The horns of the snail, for example, possess an exquisite sense of feeling, and the least obstacle causes them to be drawn in with extreme celerity. How delicate also is the feeling of the spider, since, in the midst of the web which it has so ingeniously woven, it perceives the slightest vibrations which the approach of an insect may occasion! Without dwelling, however, upon the sense of feeling in animals, it is sufficient to consider it in man for our admiration to be abundantly called forth. How can the nerves, which seem to be merely susceptible of more or less length, breadth, tension, and vibration, transmit to the soul so many different impressions and sensations? Is there between the soul and the body such a connexion, that nerves of a determinate size, structure, and tension, shall always produce certain sensations? Has each organ of sense nerves so constituted, so analagous to the small particles of matter which emanate from bodies, that the impressions they receive from them should be always followed by certain determinate sensations? To these questions it may be answered, that our knowledge upon the subject is too limited to ascertain the immediate cause of these effects, and we are obliged with all humility to acknowledge, that the mystery is at present impenetrable.

Let us, then, be content, and give thanks unto God, that with the other senses which he has bestowed upon us, he has also granted us that of feeling. If our bodies possessed less sensibility, of how many pleasures should we not be deprived? We could neither have discerned what would be advantageous to us, nor what would have been prejudicial. Happy would it be if we had as exquisite a sense of what is good for our souls; if we rightly appreciated what is excellent and honest; if our desire for holiness equalled our love of pleasure.

NOVEMBER VII.

Remembrance of the Blessings which we enjoyed in Spring and Summer.

LET us asseinble together, and acknowledge the goodness of our God. Let us gratefully remember the moments that have sweetly glided away, while we reposed on the bosom of joy, and, free from care and inquietude, suffered our hearts to expand with delight at the renewal of nature; when devotion accompanied us to the verdant bower, and every tinge of melancholy was effaced from our abodes; and while we walked along the flowery paths, every where beholding the joyful traces of the Deity.

When from the thick bush, whose leafy shade had attracted the aërial songsters, burst upon our ears melody more ravishing than the sounds of the sweetest flute, and produced those exquisite sensations which fill the heart with delight, and dispose the mind to enjoy the pleasures of friendship, harmony, and peace; smiling nature lavished upon us her sweets, and we inhaled the fragrant breath of the rose; whilst the pink and hyacinth diffused their odours far around; and the zephyrs, gently playing upon the yielding flowers before night had closed their charms, wafted over us the scented gale; then pure delight and soft emotions glowed in our hearts, our souls confessed the sweet transport, and our lips, singing in unison with the warbling of the birds, attuned the praise of the eternal God. Often when cool breezes had refreshed the burning summer air, and the birds began to be animated with new life

and vigour; when the clouds dispersing had left the deep azure of heaven clear, and the sun promised a continuance of his unobscured splendour; pleasure lent us wings, and in sportive mood we quitted the noise and tumult of the town, to rove in the green fields, or repose in the shady bower. There no trouble assailed us; wisdom, piety, joy, and innocence attended us, whilst in some sequestered retreat we indulged the love of nature. The leaves, gently breathed upon by the evening gale, while they formed around us a pleasing shade, diffused a refreshing coolness; and nature there drew from the richest springs that contentment which she bestows only upon the pure heart. There our bosoms, filled with the sweetest emotions of our own happiness, and love of our Creator, throbbed with joy, till the ready tear started from our eyes.

The gay songs from the groves poured through our hearts pleasure and gratitude. The joyful bleating of the flocks in the fat pasture, the wild note of the shepherd's pipe, and the buzzing of the beetle at it fluttered among the flowers, all impressed our souls with joy, and elevated our thoughts to the Creator, whose wisdom was thus displayed in the waters, in the air, in the cattle, the insects, and the flowers. The country all cheerful and gay, like the happy abode of our first parents, presented itself before us. Skirting the distant horizon, we perceived the dark shade of ancient forests, and hills gilded by the rays of the sun. The beautiful mixture of the most diversified colours, rural flowers, golden harvests; the rich verdure of the carpet wrought by the hands of nature; the treasures of the meadows; the sweet food of the grazing herbs, that yielded us their wholesome milk; the bread of man yet green in the ear; were all objects sufficient to call forth the praises and the gratitude of a feeling heart.

There nature displayed before our ravished senses the majesty and the beauty of her eternal Author; and we then said, this magnificent universe is too beautiful, too grand, to be the abode of men who can regard it without emotion. For man the wings of the wind waft their refreshing breezes; for him the rivulets pour along their murmuring streams, while at noon-tide he rests from his labours, and seeks the cool retreat; for him the corn sprouts, and

the trees bring forth their fruits; all the creation serves him, and he regards it not.

Yet those who love their Lord will discover in the breeze and in the brook, in the fields and in the flowers, in the blade of grass and in the ear of corn, traces of his eternal sapience, and proofs of his unutterable love and power. The vast creation is the sanctuary of God; the world is a temple consecrated to his glory; and man was designed to be as the priest of nature, and not the oppressive, destructive tyrant of defenceless beings.

NOVEMBER VIII.

Foreign Animals.

EVERY portion of the earth has animals peculiar to itself; and the Creator has placed them in one country in preference to another, for the wisest reasons. The elephant and the camel are the most remarkable animals of the southern countries. They surpass all others in size: the elephant, in particular, is like a living mountain, and his legs are like pillars. His head is fixed upon a very short neck, and armed with two weapons of defence, with which he is able to tear the trees up by the roots. With a longer neck he could not have supported the weight of his head, nor have kept it in an elevated position: to make up for this he has a very long trunk, which he uses as a hand to reach food to his mouth without being obliged to stoop for it. He cannot only move, bend, and turn his trunk in all directions, to perform what we do with our fingers, but he also uses it as an organ of sensation. His eyes are small in proportion to the size of his body, but they are brilliant, full of fire, and very expressive. In a state of nature the elephant, though wild, is neither sanguinary nor ferocious; his disposition is gentle, and he only uses his natural weapons in self-defence. Unless he is provoked, he does no one any harm; but when irritated, and roused by ill treatment, he is terrible; he seizes his enemy with his trunk, shakes him in the air, and puts him out of existence by trampling him under his feet. He eats a hundred pounds of grass in a day, and his body being of such an enormous

weight, he bruises and destroys much more with his feet than he consumes for food. His principal enemy, and often his conqueror, is the rhinoceros, an animal which somewhat resembles the wild boar, and uses the horn upon his nose to pierce the belly of the elephant.

A very little attention will be sufficient to enable us to discover the wisdom of God in the formation of the elephant: he has produced it in a country abounding in grass, and has prevented its being burthensome to the earth by multiplying too fast; for the female is with young two years, and does not couple with the male till three years after.

The camel is one of the most useful animals of the east: it is admirably formed to support the severest fatigues in the midst of dry deserts and burning sands; is able sometimes to remain four or five days without drinking, and requires but little food in proportion to its bulk. It crops the few plants and shrubs that grow in the deserts, and when none of these are to be found, a small quantity of beans and barley will suffice it for a whole day. Besides the hump upon his back, its make is altogether singular; it has two gullets, one of which terminates in the stomach, the other in a sort of bag, that serves as a reservoir for water, which remains in it without becoming putrid; and when the animal is thirsty, and has occasion to moisten its dry food, it throws up into its mouth a portion of the water, which having performed its office, returns with the food into the stomach. The ordinary load of a camel is from seven to eight hundred pounds weight; with this weight they will travel several miles in an hour, and continue for twelve or fifteen hours at a stretch.

Amongst the quadrupeds of the northern regions the most remarkable are the elk, the sable, and the rein-deer. The first of these animals is large, strong, and well-shaped. Its head, in form, size, and colour, nearly resembles that of the mule; its legs are long, and of great strength; its skin is of a light grey hue. This animal is timid, stupid, and simple. He finds proper food every where, but selects, if possible, the bark and young shoots of the willow and the birch. He is extremely agile, and with his long legs can make much way in a short time.

The sable wanders in the forests of Siberia, and is much