THE WORLD.

THE Earth, the world we inhabit, forms one of the primary planets, which, at various distances, revolve round the sun as a centre, and receive from that resplendent source the blessings of light and warmth. It is a globular or orange-shaped mass of matter, and consists of an indefinite aggregation of earthy, metallic and other substances, chemically and mechanically combined. Vast as the earth appears to the external senses of man, its greatness is only acknowledged by the inferiority of our perceptions. Science has demonstrated the earth to be one of the least among the worlds which traverse the infinity of space, and which are linked together by the force of attraction into a splendid universe. It is only one-fourth the diameter of Uranus, and an eleventh the diameter of Jupiter, and forms therefore a comparatively small portion of the planetary system, and with reference to the stars, only a speck in the vastness of creation.

The earth, according to the calculations ef astronomers, is 7,902 miles in mean diameter, and measures about 25,000 miles in circumference. But the diameter, or thickness, is greater at the middle or equatorial line, than in a contrary direction. The cause of this may be here adverted to. The diurnal motion of the earth on its axis, or imaginary poles, causes a greater velocity at the middle than at the extremities of the mass, and the earth, originally in a soft or fused state, has been then bulged out all around. The extent of this bulging is twenty-six miles on the whole thickness, or thirteen miles from the centre to the surface: thus, the globe has a spherical form, and is consequently twenty-six miles greater from one side to another at the equator than betwixt the poles. Such is the nice adjustment of the diurnal motion of the earth on its axis, that, if it were but a little accelerated, the sea would rise and fly off, and if the velocity were somewhat further increased, the whole mass of earth and water would be dispersed in fragments, or, in other words, destroyed: such, indeed, is the perfect balance of all its parts, that to add to, or abstract from, would destroy the whole fabric.

The world, as far as has been ascertained, is a solid mass or body, and consists of two kinds of matter, viz: land and water; the land is composed of rocks, metallic ores, mineral and vegetable soils, and a variety of other substances, to describe which is the province of the geologist; the water, as is well known, is a chemical combination of two gases and the most pervading of all other kinds of matter: as a general mass, it holds in solution various salines; but the water, when pure as it falls from the clouds, is fresh; the one is the water of the sea, while the other is peculiar to lakes and rivers. The greater portion of the earth consists of solid land, but an extensive area of it is covered by a superstratum of water; and therefore, to appearance, the ocean forms the principal portion of the globe. It is so, however, only in appearance, notwithstanding its imposing extent, the water being merely a superficial covering to the subjacent land.

The disposition of land and water is quite irregular, and the relative situation and dimensions of each is constantly shifting. The ocean daily encroaches on the land, while the land in other places is left dry, and becomes elevated above the level of the water. Thus, the external aspect of the globe is ever changing; and it may be safely averred, that there has been, in the course of ages, a thorough alteration over the whole terrestrial surface-that no part of the earth retains its primitive shape, or resembles that form which it originally possessed

The superficial area of the world has been calculated to contain 198,943,750 square miles, of which scarcely one-third is dry land; the remaining two-thirds being covered with water. The land is composed pri cipally of two large masses or tracts: one of which is subdivided into the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa; the other into those of North and South America. All detached masses of land are called islands, and these taken together, are computed to contain as much land as the continent of Europe. Australasia may be considered as forming a third grand division. In reference to the map of the world, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, with their islands, are distinguished as lying in the eastern hemisphere, or half; while North and South America, with the West Indies and other islands, are comprehended in the western hemisphere. The waters which encompass these extensive tracts of land have various local names; but the two principal expanses are the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: the first lying between the eastern shores of America and the continents of Europe and Africa, and the other between the western coast of America and the eastern margin of Asia. The extensive oceans which surround the polar regions, are called the Arctic or North Sea, and the Antarctic or South Sea: the everlasting ice which here presents a barrier to the intrepid explorer, frustrates the inquiries of man, and denies to him all knowledge respecting the character of these impenetrable regions. Great diversity of opinion prevails with respect to the depth of the ocean. By numerous investigations, it does not appear that the depth is much more than two or three miles-generally it is a great deal less; and it might be argued, that notwithstanding the large surface of the ocean, the body of its waters can only be considered as lying like lakes in the hollows of the land; for the earth, as already noticed, is near 8,000 miles in diameter, and to that large mass of dense matter the sea bears no proportion to its depth. While the surface of the land exhibits a great variety of mountain ranges, hills, vallies and plains, so also is the bottom of the sea varied in its configuration, abounding in sand-banks, hills, rocks and reefs; and the islands which rear their heads above the surface, are only the tops of the highest hills and mountains in the sea.

In accord with the beautiful harmony of design manifested throughout creation, the earth, with its ocean, its atmosphere, its rivers and its varying climates, forms an appropriate field for animal and vegetable existence. The power, the wisdom and goodness of God is imprinted in everything. The manner in which animals and plants are distributed in situations and circunistances exactly adapted to their character, is a matter of deeply interesting observation. Nature-by which, as a phrase of convenience, we denote the great Creating and Disposing Power-has appropriated very few forms of animal or vegetable life to be localized in any portion of the world approaching to its entire terrestrial surface. Most of them are calculated for certain climates, requiring for preserving their existence certain combinations of circumstances, and accordingly are to be found only in such