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SKETCHES OF NATURAL HISTORY.

THE AFRICAN LION. THE sun had scarcely set when the numerous herds of well-fed cattle returned from the rich pasture to be shut up for the night. Their pens were surrounded by a wall of stones and plaster, between eight and nine feet high, yet even this fence did not afford complete protection against the wild beasts; for, only a week before, a lion had leaped over the wall and back again, carrying off a calf in his jaws. He did no further mischief at this time, and succeeded in escaping with his booty, though he was immediately fired at and pursued for a considerable distance. The marks of his claws were distinctly visible on the plaster of the wall. Mr. Lyon assured me that it was no uncommon occurrence for a lion to attack a herd while at pasture in the day-time; and, from the mere love of slaughter, to kill a number of animals by striking them in the neck with his paw. Ten or fifteen victims would seldom satisfy him; nay, on one occasion, no less than thirty-six oxen fell a prey to his fury. Scarcely any of them had an external wound, for the lion generally rips up the belly of one ox, and satisfies his hunger by devouring the entrails. I heard many tales of the cruelty of the lion; but no one knew anything of his much-lauded magnanimity. Last year our host, when standing at the window, shot a lion which was about to leap over the wall of the cattle-pen; upon which the wounded and enraged animal rushed into the house to seek his assailant; and, not meeting him, was in the act of springing over the high reed partition, when he was struck by another ball and fell dead to the ground. The Negroes, as well as the Europeans, are fully persuaded that the lion is never killed by the ball, but by the prodigious leap which he takes when wounded to reach his enemy, in order, when dying, to inflict death in return by a blow of his formidable paw. One of the company related that, in the new colony of Mossamedes, a wounded lion had leapt into a slave-yard, where, in an instant, he killed thirteen Negroes and a white man, and then succeeded in taking flight.-Tam's Visit to South-Western Africa.

SPONGES.

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amined, is found to have the power of circulating the sea-water, in rapid currents through its substance, from whence it obtains the nutriment by which the life is sustained and the growth proceeds; and the gemmels, or young sponges, when separated from the parent stock, shoot like microscopic meteors through the sea, to a considerable distance from the place of their birth, by the cooperation of thousands of almost invisible oars, which vibrate continually, moved by some innate power, till, settling down on appropriate surface of rock, its oars disappear, and it soon becomes another sponge like the parent.-Church of England Quarterly Review.

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THE WILD HORSE OF TEXAS.

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WE rode through beds of sunflowers miles in extent, their dark seedy centres and radiating yellow leaves following the sun through the day from east to west, and drooping when the shadows fell over them. These were sometimes beautifully varied with a delicate flower, of an azure tint, yielding no perfume, but forming a pleasant contrast to the bright yellow of the sunflower. At half-past ten we discerned a creature in motion at an immense distance, and instantly started in pursuit. Fifteen minutes' riding brought us near enough to discover by its fleetness that it could not be a buffalo, yet it was too large for an antelope or a deer. we went, and soon distinguished the erect head, the flowing mane, and the beautiful proportions of the wild horse of the prairie. He saw us, and sped away with an arrowy fleetness till he gained a distant eminence, when he turned to gaze at us, and suffered us to approach within four hundred yards, then bounded away in another direction with a graceful velocity delightful to behold. We paused; for to pursue him with a view of capture was clearly out of the question. When he discovered we were not following him, he also paused, and now seemed to be inspired with curiosity equal to our own; for, after making a slight turn, he came nearer, until we could distinguish the inquiring expression of his clear bright eye, and the quick motion of his inflated nostrils. We had no hopes of catching, and did not wish to kill, him; but our curiosity led us to approach him slowly. We had not advanced far before he moved away, and, circling round, approached on the other side. It was a beautiful animal, a sorrel, with jet-black mane and tail. As he moved, we could see the muscles quiver in his glossy limbs; and when half playfully and half in fright he tossed his flowing mane in the air, and flourished his long silky tail, our admiration knew no bounds, and we longed--hopelessly, vexatiously longed-to possess him. We might have shot him where he stood; but, had we been starving, we could scarcely have done it. He was free, and we loved him for the very possession of

MANY persons may be surprised to find sponges classed among animals, and it is a very difficult point to determine where the line should be drawn between the vegetable and the animal kingdoms: since so many of the polypi, when cut in pieces, become perfect animals, like cuttings from a plant; and so many plants are sensitive, and even carnivorous and predatory, like the several kinds of flytrap. But sponges seem inseparably allied to corals and molluscs, both in their manner of growth and propagation: thus they must be regarded as animals; and hence naturalists begin with sponges, as the lowest form of animal life. A living sponge, closely ex

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LETTER-CARRIER.

that liberty we longed to take from him; but we would not kill him. We fired a rifle over his head. He heard the shot and the whiz of the ball, and away he went, disappearing in

the next hollow, showing himself again as he crossed the distant ridges, still seeming sinaller, until he faded away to a speck on the far horizon's verge.-Kennady's Texas.

LETTER-CARRIER.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
REV. JOHN WESLEY.

IN Wesley's Works, vol. xii., p. 476, 12mo. edit., there is a letter, said to be from Mr. Wesley to Mrs. Rebecca Gains. This is a slight mistake: she was then single, and lived in the Orphan-house in this town. She was afterwards married to a Mr. Gair,—not Gains. She was a member of the Methodist society for seventy years, and died when I was in Newcastle, in 1827. The following is the letter, to which Mr. Wesley's was the SAMUEL DUNN.

answer.

SIR,

Letter to the Rev. John Wesley.

Newcastle, July 20th, 1770.

I HAVE often thought of you since you left Newcastle, and can bless God that I have not forgotten the labours of love you bestowed upon us, for which the Lord will reward you. I bless his name that I still retain a sense of the necessity of being cleansed from all sin. I long to feel my soul all on fire to be dissolved in love, but I have not yet the victory over unbelief. O when shall the happy moment come, that I shall enjoy that sweetness I was wont to feel in my soul, and every moment live in God, and hold communion with him? I am as weak as helpless infancy. My dependence is on God. I look upon every earthly thing as empty. I desire. his will to be done in and by me, that I may live to serve him alone, and only him to know. Nothing else can make me happy, but an entire dedication of my whole soul to his disposal. I have real need of a watchful fear at all times, lest I should deviate in anything from the narrow path. O, dear Sir, pray for me, that I may ever humbly keep at the feet of Jesus, ever looking to receive out of his fulness, grace upon grace!

I feel much liberty in my bands, and they are made a great blessing to me; though even in this the enemy is not wanting. Well may it be said, he goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. I feel him as such; yet I trust the Lord will keep

me.

Since you were here, there has been a little shyness between Jane Johnson and me. Being both singers, I often, when in the room together, strove not to stand near her: the reason was, the hardness of her voice, with my own, hurt my head. But when going wrong with the tune, I would give her some signal; yet this she could not bear.

There was also a stubbornness of temper, a mimicking of fine speaking, and other things, which wrought such prejudice in me as almost destroyed all the love that subsisted between us. I found I was hurting my own soul, and wounding my sister. I was told that she was coming no more to the singing, on my account. I was now convinced that I was more in fault than she, and thought I would go to her, and own my fault, and endeavour in the Lord to love her as I ought, and persuade her back to the singing. I did so, and spoke to her with the greatest tenderness. She said she had forgiven me, but would not come again to the singing. O, dear Sir! you must forgive me in this. I am determined to look less at the failings of others, as I am not wanting in them myself.

Jenny Scott, whom you admitted into the band, and I, are very helpful to each other. Sister Hall and sister Streloger, with one or two more, are the only companions I have. I want to be more in carnest; and hope that, ere long, you will have the happiness to rejoice over me as one fully saved of the Lord. I trust I shall have an interest in your prayers, as I would assure you, dear Sir, you are not forgotten by me.

Your obliged and affectionate servant,
REBECCA YEOMAN.

Letter from the Rev. J. Wesley to Rebecca Yeoman.

London, Feb. 5th, 1772.

MY DEAR SISTER,

As far as I understand, you are now properly in the wilderness state. I advise you to read over that sermon in the fourth volume, and examine yourself thereby. If you find out the cause of heaviness or darkness, you are more than half-way to the cure. If Jenny Johnson is throughly sensible of her fault, you may trust her: if not, she should not meet in band. As your mind is tender, and easily moved, you may readily fall into inordinate affection: if you do, that will quickly darken your soul. But watch and pray, and you shall not enter into temptation. If it please God to continue my life and strength, I expect to come through Scotland in April and May, so as to reach Newcastle about the beginning of June; but who knows whether we may not, before then, take a longer journey? Our wisdom is to live to-day. I am, dear Becky, your affectionate brother, JOHN WESLEY.

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THE REV. JOHN BERRIDGE AND THE BISHOPS.

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SOON after I began to preach the Gospel at Everton, (says Mr. Berridge,) the churches in the neighbourhood were deserted, and mine so overcrowded, that the Squire, who did not like strangers, he said, and hated to be incommoded, joined with the offended Parsons, and soon after, a complaint having been made against me, I was summoned before the Bishop. Well, Berridge," said his Lordship, "did I institute you to Eaton, or Potten? Why do you go preaching out of your own parish?" My Lord," said I, "I make no claim to the livings of those parishes: 'tis true I was once at Eaton, and finding a few poor people assembled, I admonished them to repent of their sins, and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls. At that very moment, my Lord, there were five or six Clergymen out of their own parishes, and enjoying themselves on the Eaton bowling-green." "I tell you," retorted his Lordship, "that if you continue preaching where you have no right, you will be very likely sent to Huntingdon jail." "I have no more regard, my Lord, for a jail than other folks," rejoined I; "but I had rather go there, with a good conscience, than be at liberty without one." His Lordship looked very hard at me. "Poor fellow!" said he, ". 'you are beside yourself, and in a few months you will either be better or worse." "Then, my Lord," said I, "you may make yourself quite happy in this business; for if I should be better, you suppose I shall desist of my own accord; and if worse, you need not send me to Huntingdon jail, for I shall be better accommodated in Bedlam." His Lordship then pathetically entreated me, as one who had been, and wished to continue, my friend, not to embitter the remaining portion of his

days by any squabbles with my brother Clergymen, but to go home to my parish, and so long as I kept within it, I should be at liberty to do what I liked there. "As to your conscience," said his Lordship, "you know preaching out of your parish is contrary to the Canons of the Church." "There is one Canon, my Lord," said I," which I dare not disobey, and that says, 'Go, preach the Gospel to EVERY CREATURE."-Life and Times of Lady Huntingdon.

THE REV. JOHN NEWTON'S DESCRIPTION OF WHITEFIELD AS A PREACHER.

FEW Preachers possessed eloquence so well adapted to an auditory as Mr. Whitefield. In a company of noblemen and gentlemen, at breakfast, some years ago, the conversation turned on powerful Preachers, and Mr. Whitefield was naturally mentioned. The Rev. John Newton said, "I bless God that I have lived in his time: many were the winter mornings I have got up at four, to attend his Tabernacle discourses at five; and I have seen Moorfields as full of lanterns at these times as I suppose the Haymarket is full of flambeaux on an opera night. As a Preacher, if any man were to ask me who was the second I had ever heard, I should be at some loss; but in regard to the first, Mr. Whitefield exceeded so far every other man of my time, that I should be at none. He was the original of popular preaching, and all our popular Ministers are only his copies." As a proof of the power of Mr. Whitefield's preaching, Mr. Newton mentioned, that an officer at Glasgow, who had heard him preach, laid a wager with another, that, at a certain charity-sermon, though he went with prejudice, he would be obliged to give something. The other, to make sure, laid all the

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money out of his pockets; but before he left the church, he was glad to borrow some, and lose his bet. He mentioned another example of Mr. Whitefield's persuasive oratory,-his collecting at one sermon six hundred pounds, for the inhabitants of an obscure village in Germany, that had been burnt down: no very interesting object, surely, for the public in London. After the sermon, Mr. Whitefield said, "We shall sing a hymn, during which, those who do not choose to give their mite on this awful occasion may sneak off." Not one stirred: he got down from the pulpit, and ordered all the doors to be shut but one, at which he held the plate himself, and collected the above sum; more than ever was done on a similar occasion. Mr. Newton also related as a fact, that at the time of his greatest persecution, when obliged to preach in the streets, in one week he received not fewer than a thousand letters from persons distressed in their consciences by the energy of his preaching.—Ibid.

A SHARP REPROOF TO A LADY OF TITLE.

WHEN Lady Huntingdon withdrew from the fashionable circles of the great, the line of conduct she thought proper to pursue naturally excited the enmity of those of her own rank, although she had a testimony in the consciences of them, as appeared even in their words, that what she did was right. One day, at court, the Prince of Wales

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AN INFIDEL PHYSICIAN.

DR. OLIVER, the eminent physician, was visited by Lady Huntingdon, a few days before he died. He lamented, not only his own past infidelity, but the zeal and success with which he had endeavoured to infect the mind of others. "O that I could undo the mischief I have done! I was more ardent to poison people with the principles of irreligion and unbelief, than almost any Christian can be to spread the doctrines of Christ." "Cheer up!" answered Lady Huntingdon : "Jesus, the great sacrifice for sin, atoned for the sins of the second table, as well as those of the first." "God," replied he, "certainly can, but I fear never will, pardon such a wretch as I." "You may fear it at present," rejoined the Countess; "but you and I shall most certainly meet each other in heaven." The doctor then said, "O woman! great is thy faith! My faith cannot believe that I shall ever be there."-Ibid.

EPITAPH

TABLE-TALK.

On a Grave-stone, in the Parish Churchyard of Bolton, Lancashire.

JOHN OKEY, the servant of God, was born in London, 1608. Came into this town, 1629. Married Mary, the daughter of James Compton, of Brightmet, 1635, with whom he had lived comfortably twenty years, and had four sons and six daughters. Since then he lived sole till the day of his death. In his time were many great changes and terrible alterations. Eighteen years civil wars in England; besides many dreadful sea-fights. The crown or command of England changed eight times. Episcopacy laid aside fourteen years. London burnt by Papists, and more stately built again. Germany wasted three hundred miles. Two hundred and sixty thousand Protestants murdered in Ireland by the Papists. This town thrice stormed; once taken and plundered. He went through many troubles and divers conditions. Found rest,

joy, and happiness only in holiness, the faith, fear, and love of God, in Jesus Christ. He died the 29th April, lieth here buried, 1684. Come, Lord Jesus, O, come quickly! Holiness is man's happiness! -Imperial Magazine.

DR. JOHNSON.

Ir has been observed by Dr. Johnson that "the difficulty of the first address is felt by every man in his transactions with the world, and confessed by the settled and regular forms of salutation which necessity has introduced into all languages. Judgment was wearied with the perplexity of being forced upon choice, where there was no motive to preference; and it was found convenient. that some easy method of introduction should be established, which, if it wanted the allurement of novelty, might enjoy the security of prescription.'

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DIANA.

IN mythology this was the Latin name of the goddess known to the Greeks as Artemis, the daughter of Jupiter and Latona, and sister of Apollo. She was the virgin goddess of the chase, and also presided over health. The sudden deaths of women were attributed to her darts, as those of men were to the arrows of Apollo.

She was generally represented as a healthy active maiden, in the dress of a huntress, with a handsome but ungentle expression of coun

tenance.

The homage rendered to Diana was so extensive that the silversmith who remarked that she was worshipped in all Asia and the world, can scarcely be accused of exaggeration. A catalogue of the various places where temples were erected in her honour, would comprise every city of note in the ancient world.

Among others may be mentioned Ephesus,

Abydos, Heraclea, Aulis, Eretria, Samos, Bubastos in Egypt, Delos, and Mount Aventine in Rome.

But of all her temples, that in Ephesus was the most celebrated. It was erected at the joint expense of all the states of Asia; and according to the accounts of ancient authors, it must have surpassed in splendour all the structures of antiquity, and fully deserved to be regarded as one of the wonders of the world. A small statue of the goddess, or, as she was termed by her votaries, the "Great Diana of the Ephesians," which was commonly supposed to have been sent from heaven, was here enshrined and adorned with all that wealth and genius could contribute. The fate of this temple is well known. On the day that Alexander the Great was born, it was set on fire by Eratostratus, from a morbid desire to transmit his name, even with infamy, to posterity.

Some Heathen writers would assure us that

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