in this island, however, are never or very rarely locked up by the ice, as they are for many months in the northern parts of Europe. The following are the astronomical appearances which will take place during the ensuing month: First quarter of the moon, takes place on the 3rd, at 43 minutes past six in the morning. She will be full (or in opposition to the sun) on the 10th, at 20 minutes past seven at night. Her last quarter occurs on the 19th, at 25 minutes before one in the morning, and she becomes new, or in conjunction with the sun, on the 19th, at 52 minutes past one in the morning. The moon is in apogee, or the greatest distance from the earth, on the 14th, and in her perigee, or the nearest distance from our planet, on the 27th. On the 15th, she is in conjunction with Jupiter, with Saturn on the 21st, and with Venus on the 28th. Mercury is visible to unassisted vision, near the western horizon, in the evenings, during the first week of this month.* The amusements of sliding, skaiting, and other pastimes on the ice, give life to this dreary season; but our frosts are not continued and steady enough to afford us such a share of these diversions as some other nations enjoy. "Where the Rhine extends, Branch'd out in many a long canal, From every province swarming, void of care, Batavia rushes forth; and as they sweep, ways, In circling poise, swift as the winds along, snow, Pour a new pomp. Eager, on rapid sleds, Their vig'rous youth in bold contention wheel The long resounding course. Meantime, to raise The manly strife, with highly blooming charms, Flush'd by the season, Scandinavia's dames, Or Russia's buxom daughter's glow Verulam Cottage, Pentonville, SURVEY OF BOOKS. The Exalted Nation; a Sermon preached at THE religious world is deluged with sermons, which is the chief reason why, instead of being valued according to their intrinsic lected and unread. On the accession of her worth, they are, by the great majority, negpresent Majesty, [on whom we pray every possible blessing, both spiritual and temporal,] not a few sermons, preached on the occasion, were published by many eminent divines, and among them all, we know of no one discourse more worthy of preservation, and extensive circulation, than the one now before us. We have been much pleased and edified by the perusal, and feel persuaded that it cannot fail to do good to every reader into whose hands it may fall. Chemical Recreations: a Compendium of THIS is part first, comprising Chemical Manipulation, and Analysis by the Blowpipe. By the advertisement, we learn that part the second, a Course of Testing, comprising an Elementary Introduction to Qualitative Chemical Analysis; and part third, Systematic Chemistry, comprising an account of Chemical Elements and their Compounds, illustrated by experiments, are to make their appearance before the public in due time. We hope that our old friend Griffin will not impose too large a tax on the patience of his numerous admirers. This valuable work, now open before us, has reached its eighth edition, which fact is * Rogerson's Temporis Calendarium, for alone a sufficient recommendation. 1838. To those who delight in exploring the ar their aid so far as they could, in establishing a Society so plainly accommodated to the circumstances and condition of this large and rapidly increasing Town. canum of nature, this volume will prove a valuable acquisition. In talent and utility, it is equal to any work of the kind in the English language, and in several respects superior to every other. A great deal of Your Committee, in making these remarks, nonsense has been written and published having reference to their previous engageabout chemical affinity, but our author wisely ments, would have it distinctly understoood, rejects the doctrine in toto. "The reason, ," that they do not by any means regret the says Mr. Griffin, "that so much nonsense has step they have taken. They are grateful been published about this affinity, is, simply, that so much has been done, and anticipate that chemists have been desirous of envelop-further success. But your Committee do reing their ignorance in a cloak of mystery.gret the manifest indifference and apathy of There stood the plain fact before the world, many Young Men, to the means of improvethat bodies combined together, and chemists ment placed within their reach; itself a knew not why, but, the chemists not liking to say so, and not liking even to think so, persuaded themselves, and then tried to convince the world, that they did know why; they said that bodies combined together in virtue of their affinity for one another. This was pretty. The credulous stared, and amazement gave place to belief." (Introduction, pp. xxv.) This is blowing up the wonder-working nomenclature with a witness. To all the multifarious sorts of affinity into which the ingenuity of sophists has divided the primary doctrine of chemistry, and which is so well calculated to mislead, perplex, and mystify the ignorant and unwary, the author bids, "rosy dreams and slumbers light attend them all," and finally wishes them a very good night. We say, ditto. Your Committee is one, the members of which were already fully engaged in many 'labours of love,' at the time of the formation of this Branch; so that they were not in a condition to give that attention to the interests of the Society which its importance demands. But apprehending the scheme of the Society to be one admirably calculated for the mental and moral improvement of Young Men, and more especially for the exigences of the Young Men of Manchester; and further, being urged to form themselves into Committee, by the zeal of their pious founder, Mr. Nasmith, they resolved to lend striking proof of the existing necessity for such a Society. Our Quarterly Meetings and Lectures, though highly interesting and instructive, have been but thinly attended. This has been discouraging to those who take a part, and are interested in our welfare. Believing, however, that it was always so in the world, that the attempt to raise it in the scale of morals and of purity, has been, and will continue to be resisted; your Committee purpose, under the blessing of God, to persevere in their efforts, if by any means the Youth of this town may be awakened to a consideration of their true interests. Eleven Associations have been formed, of which seven are in operation—comprising ninety-one members. Of the remaining four Associations,-one has ceased to meet through various discouragements, and three are not yet at work. In September, a Sermon was preached to the Members, by the Rev. C. P. Burton, L. L. D., when the Church was crowded, and considerable interest excited. A course of six Lectures, on the principles of Geology, has been delivered by Mr. W. C. Williamson, Curator of the National History Society, of this town; which, it is hoped, has excited, in all who heard them, a desire to acquaint themselves with the numerous works of "Him by whom the worlds were framed." Forty Essays have been read during the past quarter. Most of the Members are engaged in Sabbath School Teaching, many in Distributing Tracts, and a few in Visiting the Sick. The Reports from the Associations are on the whole of an encouraging kind, notwithstanding the difficulties they have met with. Signed, T. H. WILLIAMS, Manchester, London: T. RILEY, Printer, 10, King Street, Tower Hill. Secretaries. THE YOUNG MEN'S No. 14.] MAGAZINE. FEBRUARY, 1838. GOD'S SUPERINTENDENCE OF MAN, AND MAN'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO HIM. [VOL. II. with feeble man. All these are actions worthy of a God. But talk of his vigilant protection in constant exercise over the meanest MAN, when in the pride of his of his creatures, and observance of own intellect he substitutes opinions their most insignificant actions, and hastily formed, by a judgment at either a laugh of derision, or oftener best but weak and superficial, for perhaps, and by which more is inthe declaration of sacred writ, is ferred, a contemptuous silence is guilty, not only of an unbelief as your only reply. unpardonable as it is criminal, but not unfrequently also of inconsistencies as absurd as they are contemptible. 66 He, however, who has attained to the greatest perfection in the knowledge of the Divine Being, whether possessing the most exalted genius He will allow of a Creator, and and intellectual power, or but little Supreme Governor of the universe, enlightened in secular science, is who in the exercise of his omnipo- ever willing to acknowledge his firm tence could make the graves yield belief that he who "fills the universe up their dead-unlock the rugged with his majesty,” and “ governs all well, and make the pure streams things by the word of his power," gush forth"-prepare a fish for the disdains not to visit the abode of reception of a disobedient prophet-the meanest of his creatures-to and convert the poorest water into watch over and guard him—to listen the richest wine. Nor is he pre- to his prayers-to regard his humpared to deny that but a word from blest wishes-and "attend with pathe same infinite Being sufficed to rental affection and solicitude to the check the fury of the winds, curb most secret sorrows and anxieties of the rage of the mighty ocean, and in his bosom." "He is about our path one moment convert the boisterous and our bed, and spieth out all our violence of the former and foaming ways.' 66 billows of the latter into an un- Had God, as it has been well reclouded sky and an unruffled sea. marked, formed this world and then Nay, further, his credulity is not left it to its own governance, he affected at the narration of the effect would "in it have created a Deity of the same power when exercised equal to himself," and capable, like upon spirits which, though "fallen himself, of executing those orders and from their high estate," are yet arrangements which are peculiar to a mighty and powerful when compared Being omniscient and omnipresent. VOL. II. C their aid so far as they could, in establishing a Society so plainly accommodated to the circumstances and condition of this large and rapidly increasing Town. canum of nature, this volume will prove a valuable acquisition. In talent and utility, it is equal to any work of the kind in the English language, and in several respects superior to every other. A great deal of Your Committee, in making these remarks, nonsense has been written and published having reference to their previous engageabout chemical affinity, but our author wisely ments, would have it distinctly understoood, rejects the doctrine in toto. "The reason,' ," that they do not by any means regret the says Mr. Griffin, "that so much nonsense has step they have taken. They are grateful been published about this affinity, is, simply, that so much has been done, and anticipate that chemists have been desirous of envelop-further success. But your Committee do reing their ignorance in a cloak of mystery.gret the manifest indifference and apathy of There stood the plain fact before the world, many Young Men, to the means of improvethat bodies combined together, and chemists knew not why, but, the chemists not liking to say so, and not liking even to think so, persuaded themselves, and then tried to convince the world, that they did know why; they said that bodies combined together in virtue of their affinity for one another. This was pretty. The credulous stared, and amazement gave place to belief." (Introduction, pp. xxv.) This is blowing up the wonder-working nomenclature with a witness. To all the multifarious sorts of affinity into which the ingenuity of sophists has divided the primary doctrine of chemistry, and which is so well calculated to mislead, perplex, and mystify the ignorant and unwary, the author bids, ". rosy dreams and slumbers light attend them all," and finally wishes them a very good night. We say, ditto. Your Committee is one, the members of which were already fully engaged in many 'labours of love,' at the time of the formation of this Branch; so that they were not in a condition to give that attention to the interests of the Society which its importance demands. But apprehending the scheme of the Society to be one admirably calculated for the mental and moral improvement of Young Men, and more especially for the exigences of the Young Men of Manchester; and further, being urged to form themselves into Committee, by the zeal of their pious founder, Mr. Nasmith, they resolved to lend ment placed within their reach; itself a striking proof of the existing necessity for such a Society. Our Quarterly Meetings and Lectures, though highly interesting and instructive, have been but thinly attended. This has been discouraging to those who take a part, and are interested in our welfare. Believing, however, that it was always so in the world, that the attempt to raise it in the scale of morals and of purity, has been, and will continue to be resisted; your Committee purpose, under the blessing of God, to persevere in their efforts, if by any means the Youth of this town may be awakened to a consideration of their true interests. Eleven Associations have been formed, of which seven are in operation-comprising ninety-one members. Of the remaining four Associations,-one has ceased to meet through various discouragements, and three are not yet at work. In September, a Sermon was preached to the Members, by the Rev. C. P. Burton, L. L. D., when the Church was crowded, and considerable interest excited. A course of six Lectures, on the principles of Geology, has been delivered by Mr. W. C. Williamson, Curator of the National History Society, of this town; which, it is hoped, has excited, in all who heard them, a desire to acquaint themselves with the numerous works of "Him by whom the worlds were framed." Forty Essays have been read during the past quarter. Most of the Members are engaged in Sabbath School Teaching, many in Distributing Tracts, and a few in Visiting the Sick. The Reports from the Associations are on the whole of an encouraging kind, notwithstanding the difficulties they have met with. Signed, T. H. WILLIAMS, Manchester, London: T. RILEY, Printer, 10, King Street, Tower Hill. Secretaries. 66 not fail to set his seal to the decla- combined with the most exalted ration, that "godliness is profitable powers possessed by the human for all things," having the promise of mind, would fail to stretch a the life that now is, as well as of thought half way to God." that which is to come. The son of melody, who is gifted The Man of Genius, whose intel-" to play upon stringed instruments,' lect grasps the difficulties of science, tunes his harp to "Zion's Songs," and unravels its deepest intricacies and touches chords worthy of angels' with an ease surpassed only by the ears, when his theme is the same as facility with which he communicates that which employs the tongue of the most lofty ideas, in a manner Gabriel himself. intelligible to minds less gifted than Let but this principle be firmly his own,-so far from burying him- rooted in the mind, and exercise its self in the pride of his own intellect, holy influence there, and be a and saying with contempt to his bro- man's gifts what they may, it shall at ther of inferior capacity, 66 depart last, if not inscribed on the marble from me, for I am wiser than thou," tablet, (as in the case of one dear to -bows with childlike humility before the writer,) be deeply engraven in that God "who made him to differ," the hearts of all to whom he was and who, he knows, is no respecter of persons. He deems it his highest privilege, to lay the most exalted trophies of his genius at the foot of His throne, and to render them sub- To the belief of this doctrine, and servient to the glory of their Giver, its effectual working in the human and the welfare of mankind at large. mind, under the gracious influence Nor, blest with the influence of of the Holy Spirit, we this hallowed belief, does the gentle philanthropy of a Howard; the Poet breathe forth the aspirations energy of a Wilberforce; the pious of his muse in solitary loneliness, strains of a Cowper and Montgomery; merely to beguile his hours of and the almost angelic melody of a melancholy, but pours forth senti- Handel. ments fraught with piety and devo known, "that his varied talents and his life were consecrated to God his Saviour, and employed for the happiness of man." owe the These, and many others, most, if tion, clad in the "charming witchery not all, of whom, we trust, are now of verse." Religion, clothed in this "glorified spirits in heaven," reattractive garb, will ofttimes draw joiced to sacrifice their varied the attention, and call forth the ad- talents at the shrine of piety and demiration, of those who will not, or votion. rather cannot, from natural blindness, discover either "form or comeli ness To all possessed of gifts, if not to the same extent, of a similar or any other kind, I would say, "go and do likewise, and the same reward awaits you." in her more sombre form. Holding sweet, though silent, converse with all nature, both animate and inanimate, and even almost with He who freely gave himself for heaven itself; the Bard permits not you, demands and well deserves the the flights of a lofty imagination to surrender; and if made in a spirit carry him into the mazes of infidelity, of humble dependence on His for he is well aware that the sublime righteousness alone, yours will be theories of Christianity afford him the bliss to hear from his lips at the full scope; for fancy's utmost efforts,"last, the solemn day," the equally |