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ORIGINAL POETRY.

THE AIR-BALLOON AND DIVING-BELL.

BY BERNARD BARTON.

Man, his proud skill in ARTS to prove,
By Air-Balloons ascends above;
And, more his power to show,
On SCIENCE calls to yield her spell,
Then plunges, in her Diving-Bell,
To Ocean's depths below!

The first with all its vaunted power,
Has won amusement for an hour,
The mob's applauding breath!
While to the daring aeronaut
The rash experiment has brought
Danger, and sometimes death!
The Diving-Bell meantime has gain'd
What Ocean's depths had else detain'd
In their dark caves for aye!
And by unwearied, patient toil,
Has made the waves disgorge their spoil
Once more to earth and day!

May not the difference be design'd
To teach the thoughtful musing mind
SCIENCE and ART were given-
Would we but rightly weigh their worth-
To bless mankind, and gladden earth,
But not as GUIDES TO HEAVEN!

THE RESTORATION OF THE NOBLEMAN'S SON.

ST. JOHN C. IV.

There was mourning in the palace, and weeping in each room,
That house from pomp and revelry was silent as the tomb;
The Sire was stricken in his pride-the Mother in her love-
For God chastiseth all at times, their faithfulness to prove!
Upon the wind, fell pestilence came sweeping surely down,
Its grasp was on the innocent-their beautiful, their own!
They bore him to his downy couch, they rais'd his aching head,
They mov'd around his place of rest with light and gentle tread;
They deem'd him as a flower bow'd down by hurricane and rain,
Which gentle care could nourish, so that it might bloom again:
And one lean'd o'er him with the hope such tenderness to prove,
With all a Mother's watchfulness,—and Oh! a Mother's love.
How comes it that a Father too sits not beside his Son ?
Mourns he not then his stricken bud, and that his only one ?
He mourns indeed, but not as those who weep with fell despair,

He feels that though the tempest lours, some sunshine still is there.
That Sire hath left his palace gate, hath hied him on the road,
Hath knelt to Him for whom he sought-The mourner and his God!
VOL. I.-April, 1835.

I I

""Come down, Sir, ere my child shall die,' his life is ebbing fast,
Thy power alone can save him now, for mortal help is past"-
"Unless by signs and wonders shown ye will not sure believe :
Have I then power, our Saviour said, to bid thee cease to grieve?
Yet, if with faith thy heart is fill'd, if hope hath been thy stay,
Man, 'thy Son liveth!' even now--rejoice, and 'go thy way.'

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That mourner went his homeward way, his weeping chang'd to joy, For faith within his breast was strong, he thought upon his boy. His servants met him on the road with fear and wonder fill'd, Thy Son yet lives, they all exclaim'd-'twas as our Saviour will'd, "At the same hour" when Jesus spake that death-doom'd child to save, Health came with "healing on her wings" and snatch'd him from the grave. Colchester, Feb. 10, 1835.

M.

SPIRITUAL SONGS FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS.

No. 6.

IN TRIBULATION.

Oh! wilt thou not bear me upon eagle's wings,
Thro' the host of my woes and my sufferings?
Wilt thou not wipe away the hot tear from the eye,
And temper the anguish in every sigh?

Canst thou not still the storm, and the turmoil, and strife
That clogs round the spirit, and walls up our life?
Destroy the barb'd fangs that are ready to sting,
And repress the false breath that flies withering?

I know that thou wilt, and 'tis this thought that cheers
My soul in its glooms, and my breast in its fears;
It is this thought that filleth my heart with a glow
When congeal'd like to ice, by some withering woe :
It is this that forbiddeth my spirit to mourn,

Though its dearest of hopes from the bosom are torn;
And 'tis this thought that maketh me slow to complain
In the midst of my wrongs and the height of my pain.

Oh, hast thou not stor❜d far beyond the stern range
Of mortal strife, or of earthly change,

Bliss, pure and holy, joy bright and high,
And pleasure too perfect and taintless to die;

Hast thou not stor❜d them up for the spirits that move
In the path of thy wisdom and light of thy love;
For those that are patient and bow to thy will,
For those that, tho' stricken, will trust in Thee still?

Thou hast! and I brave all the wrongs that assail,
And triumph in storm like the hawk in the gale ;—
Thou hast and my griefs are all borne from my mind,
Like the thunder-spent cloud on the meek summer's wind.
Thou hast and the missiles of hate cannot harm;
And sorrow herself hath a beauty and charm.
Thou hast and false life no more torture may bring;
Thou hast and proud death is disarm'd of his sting.

REVIEW OF BOOKS.

India; its State and Prospects. By Edward Thornton, Esq. London: Parbury, Allen, and Co.

PERHAPS there is no country of which so little positive information is abroad, as that of India. The majority of the people of this country, although recently much attention has been called to the subject, are either entirely ignorant of it, or very superficially acquainted with it. The act which last year passed the British legislature for effecting an arrangement with the East-India Company, and for the better government of the East-Indian territories, has created an era in the history of these territories, and seems to afford a fitting opportunity for taking a view of their situation and resources. The author cannot be said to have done more than broken the ground of this important subject. The political relations of India, the mode of its government, the sources of its wealth and prosperity, and, above all, its judicial system, are each, in itself, sufficient to form a highly interesting and instructive volume. In the book before us, these subjects are touched upon in a popular manner. The chapter on the judicial system contains some original disquisitions, the subjects of which are in themselves of the highest importance, and they have been treated in a manner creditable to the talents, as well as to the feelings of the author.

The parts most interesting to us are those that exhibit the religion and morals of this extraordinary people; and we are not at all surprised at the dark picture of human error which a review of it presents, as such will ever be the result of semi-barbarism, ignorance, and superstition. It has often been the practice of deistical carpers at religion to praise the simplicity of the Hindoos, and to laud their many virtues slyly insinuating by this that religious systems make but little difference in the human character, that human nature is always the same; and it very often happens that those who would endeavour to exhibit the vices of other nations, subject themselves to the charge of illiberality, but even this the lover of truth fears not; he writes not to gratify persons or party, but to afford benefit to the common family of man. Of the morals of the natives we leave the author to speak :

"There is no virtue in which the natives are more universally deficient than in a regard for truth. Veracity is, in fact, almost unknown. Falsehood pervades all the intercourse of private life, and is carried to such an extent in courts of law, as to render it almost impossible for the judges to exercise their duty in such a manner as to satisfy their consciences. False testimony is not the exception, but the rule; and it is delivered, and even persevered in, with a calmness, a self-possession, and an air of sincerity which would disarm suspicion, were it not that two conflicting stories cannot both be true, and that the character of Indian witnesses is tolerably appreciated by those most accustomed to them. Not only will two sets of witnesses give directly contrary testimony, but not unfrequently will it turn out, upon investigation, that neither of them know any thing of the matter in question. Even those who have a just cause, will seek to defend it by falsehood. It must be quite unnecessary to descant upon the low state of moral principle that must be prevalent where such things are of frequent occurrence. No virtue is more essential to the

well-being of society than a general regard to truth. When this is wanting all rights are insecure, and courts of law may be made the instruments of the grossest injustice. The tenure of property is nearly as uncertain as it would be in the absence of all law; the only difference being, that in the one case it is taken by force, in the other it is transferred by fraud.

"From the prevalence of falsehood in legal proceedings, it will be inferred, that honesty is not in higher estimation than truth; and according to the most accurate and intelligent observers, trick, deception, and fraud, are interwoven with almost all transactions of business. In every bargain, fraud is apprehended; and it is to be feared that there are few in which it is not contemplated. The consequence is, that conditions and securities are multiplied without end, and the ingenuity displayed in devising precautions against fraud is only exceeded by the ingenuity exercised in evading them. If confidence is reposed, it is but too often accepted only for the purpose of abusing it. The agent or steward of a rich man endeavours to transfer as much as possible of his master's wealth to his own coffers. He again is plundered by his subordinates; and this is the course of procedure down to the lowest dependent, who having none beneath him, enjoys the luxury of plundering without being plundered in return. The dearest ties of consanguinity afford no security. The brother cannot safely trust the brother, the uncle the nephew, nor even the father the son. Trusts of the most solemn character are commonly abused; and the offices of guardian and executor converted into sources of emolument without hesitation and without shame.

"Breaches of moral obligation are indeed too frequent every where: but nothing can mark more strongly the difference between Europe and India in this respect than the state of public opinion. In Europe, though falsehood and fraud exist, the imputation of either is disgraceful. The habitual liar will defend his veracity with warmth, and feels, or affects to feel, the charge of falsehood as an insult. The swindler would, if possible, pass for an honest man, and all who violate the laws of sound morality, pay to them an indirect homage, by endeavouring to assume the virtues which they have not. In India this is not the case. There is little more of decency than of morality. Men do not even pretend to truth and honesty, because the pretension is not necessary to their station in society. The virtues themselves are not respected, and therefore no one is respected for possessing them, nor despised for wanting them. The wholesome check derived from public opinion can be wanting only in a very depraved state of society, and, when once destroyed, it is obvious that the scale of morality will continue to descend with fearful rapidity. In Europe, bad men are sometimes withheld solely by this check from actions injurious to society. In the better disposed it is an important auxiliary to good conduct: and with that numerous class who hover between virtue and vice, not insensible to the claims of the one, and at the same time little able to resist the temptations of the other, it throws the preponderating weight on the right side. The influence of habit, moreover, is not to be despised, and those who first adhere to truth and justice, only because it is decent, may in time become attached to the same course, because it is right. Too many, indeed, form their standard of morals exclusively from the customs of their country, and where the most important moral qualities find no echo in public sentiment, it requires little sagacity to pronounce an accurate judgment on the state of society.

"While abundantly productive of the meaner vices, the Indian character is not exempt from those of a darker hue. Falsehood and dishonesty are associated with malevolence: and contention, animosity, and revenge prevail among every grade and condition. Men pursue each other with the most deadly enmity, and with the most determined and long-continued perseverance. No opinion was ever more unfounded than that which has been so often ad

vanced, and so commonly received, of the mild and benevolent character of the Hindoos. Passive, indeed, they are, and frequently servile, but not mild. Where they have any thing to hope or any thing to fear, where the expression of resentment would expose them to danger or inconvenience, they can conceal it, and submit to insult and injury with an appearance of the most patient submission; but the desire of revenge, though hidden, is active, and at the first favourable opportunity will be indulged. Nothing would be more easy than to produce numerous instances of the obstinate malignity which marks the Hindoo character, and which is confirmed and fortified by superstition. With all the delicacy which the British Government has at all times observed towards the religion of the majority, it has been found impossible to avoid occasionally interfering to suppress practices originating in vindictive feeling, and sanctioned by superstitious credulity, which threatened completely to paralyse the operation of the law. One of these was common in the province of Benares, where the Brahmins were held in the highest reverence, and their persons regarded as inviolable. When any process from the judicial or fiscal authorities was to be executed upon a Brahmin, he would threaten to inflict personal violence, sometimes extending to suicide on himself if the officer approached too near; or if, as frequently happened, his affection for his own person was too tender to allow him to place it in jeopardy, he would bring forward some member of his family or tribe whom he threatened to maim or put to death, if an attempt were made to serve the process. These threats were not mere words; they were often carried into execution, the victims themselves acquiescing, under a conviction, that after death they should become the tormentors of those who were the occasion of their being sacrificed. A practice, somewhat similar, was that of a person placing himself at the door of another, armed with some offensive weapon, or provided with poison, for the purpose either of recovering a debt or extorting a donation. By the established rules, the besieger was to remain fasting until his object was obtained, and the person besieged was also to abstain from nourishment until the other party was satisfied. During the siege, ingress to the house and egress from it were suspended. Neither could be attempted, except at the risk of the party, without wounding himself with the weapon, or swallowing the poison which he had provided. These two customs were found so dangerous as to call for the interposition of the supreme authority to put them down."

We should have been pleased had the volume contained more on the subject of education in India, both as regards the European and the Indian population, for we are convinced that it is to this that society must chiefly look for improvement. It is this, working its silent, its steady, and gentle way, that will insensibly undermine the superstitions, the bigotry, and the evils that afflict mankind; and carry off those corruptions, whose taint is felt both throughout the public mind and the body politic.

NOTICES OF SCHOOL BOOKS.

A Treatise on the Conjugations of the French Verbs. By M. C. V. Martin. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

THE above Treatise will be of very considerable service to those engaged in teaching French. It contains a variety of useful hints on the study of French grammatically. A very copious illustration of the use of the imperfect and preterite tenses, and succinct rules for ascertaining the gender of

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