or the science of building, is one which does, in a great measure, help to raise and civilize the mind. The labourer may spend many a half-hour with much pleasure in admiring the proportions of a fine building, if he has only acquired the knowledge and taste which qualifies the higher classes for those enjoyments. And it will be well to obtain, when he can, some portion of that knowledge, which may lead to so pure a pleasure. This study, however, and enjoyment of these things is, like all others, beset with its dangers; and against these we have to guard ourselves, as we have in every other pursuit. The danger here is, lest we should think so much of what is formal and without, as to forget, or think less of, what is within and spiritual. It may be feared that the attention of many who take no pleasure in the services, is often fixed upon the ornaments of the church: and many a wandering eye is detected roving towards some outward object, when all our powers ought to be engaged in worshipping or in hearing Him who dwelleth therein. There is one day which we ought not to spare, even for admiring the architecture of God's house; one day, whose own sacred duties and pleasures are so engrossing, that we ought to have little care for anything that is without us. Although it may be well to feel impressed with awe when we enter a large and magnificent house of prayer, and this is one of the objects for which it was built, yet when the Christian's mind is engaged with his God in prayer, he does not wish to let his thoughts wander to any other contemplation. Still less ought we to think that religion consists in outward things, since they who worship God, must worship Him in spirit and in truth. It is in the hearts of his faithful people that God dwelleth, and they will make an acceptable temple, when there is no other. Let us not forget that the one thing needful is to have the Lord God dwelling in our hearts by faith, through Jesus Christ. Let us seek this as the first, and best, of blessings, and never suffer ourselves to rest content with thing besides. The rest is only secondary, although it is of importance: it comes after the other, very far; but also has its weight, its consequence, and its pleasures. any E. SUPERIOR VALUE OF EDUCATED WORK-PEOPLE. THE Commissioners who were appointed to inquire into the condition of the mining and manufacturing children, received abundant testimonies of the dangerous nature of ignorance, and of the value of intelligence. The following answers from practical and experienced men ought to increase our desire of knowledge: 1. I have always found that the educated and instructed workpeople, of whatever age or sex, are better conducted and more valuable than the ignorant and illiterate. Every day's experience convinces me of the importance of diffusing information among the labouring classes. 2. I find the ignorant generally very jealous and suspicious of any improvement which is to be introduced. I am of opinion that it would promote the interests of the employer if every mechanic, from the highest to the lowest, were well instructed. 3. The better a man is educated the better workman he makes. I speak from the experience and observation of many years. Instruction and kindness towards the working classes have an elevating tendency. 4. The educated and cultivated work-people, of all ages, are decidedly the best; they are more valuable as mechanics, because they are more regular in their habits, and more to be relied upon in their work. 5. I always find the men who are educated are more reasonable and more respectful in their behaviour than the ignorant. It occasionally happens that, from the increasing competition, a reduction of wages is required. When this happens, I call my men together and explain the circumstances to them, and inquire if they are willing to execute the order upon the terms offered; on these occasions, I find that the educated class is most easily convinced of the real state of the case, and therefore willing to accede to what the market requires. The educated class are better conducted in their family relations than the uninformed. 6. I cannot trust much to the young ones that have not been educated; they are generally not trustworthy. They are not so obliging as those who are educated; they are indolent, and will take advantage of you when your back is turned. 7. I can tell at a glance children who attend school from those who do not; they are much more quick and intelligent. 8. My best servants are those who have been best taught in their youth. 9. We very rarely give work to any boy who cannot write, because we have found, that at least three out of every four boys who could not write at the time of their entering our work, have never done any good, being either worthless workers, or worthless characters, or both. 10. Education will never make men worse, but will surely improve their minds and dispositions. Of this I am certain, from long experience. 11. The better educated, conduct themselves better in times of difficulty and danger, in sickness and sorrow. In every opportunity I have had of observing, I always saw, that the persons who could read, bore up against difficulties better than others who could not, and would better console themselves and their families. 12. They attend more to their moral and religious duties. The ignorant are less inclined to do their duty both toward God and man.-Extracted from "Saturday Magazine." EFFECTS OF PROVIDENT HABITS. A LABOURING man, who had for many years been in the habit of chewing tobacco, applied to the office of the "Provident Man's Friend Society," in Bristol, saying that he was resolved to leave it off; and began by depositing a shilling a week, which he used to spend in tobacco. After having continued in the practice of bringing his money several weeks, he once observed, "that as he found since he left off the use of tobacco, he could do with less beer, he would add sixpence a week to his savings on this account." This prudent man continues regularly to bring 1s. 6d. per week to the office.-Northampton Herald. THE PEAK OF TENERIFFE. THE Island of Teneriffe, containing the volcano represented in our engraving, is one of the most important of the Canary Islands. These lie on the western coast of Africa, about one hundred and fifty miles from the shore. They are seven in number, and are supposed to be the same as the Fortunate Islands, frequently adverted to in the works of the ancients. Their soil in general is fertile, producing in abundance all kinds of fruit, grain, and pulse, and furnishing excellent wine; the preference, however, is generally given to that made at Palma and Teneriffe. Their climate is the finest in the world; the heavens are seldom overcast, but are almost continually serene, and free from storms and thunder. No where in the same latitude are the heats of summer so temperate, and no where do the natives enjoy such health and long life. The only disagreeable weather which they experience, is when visited by a south-east wind from the great desert of Africa; this, however, is of rare occurrence, and of short duration. The island is of a triangular form, each side being about thirty-six miles in length, and chiefly consists of the great peak running down into the sea. It is divided in the middle by a edge of mountains which somewhat resembles the roof of a church, the Peak forming the spire in its centre; and five-sixths of the island have been computed to consist of rocks, woods, and inaccessible mountains. A Spanish traveller has given us an account of his ascent to the Peak. After travelling over great loose rocks and stones, and enduring many difficulties, he and his friends at length arrived at the foot of the Peak, termed the Sugar Loaf. The length of the eminence is not above half a mile, yet so steep that they were obliged to stop and take breath, at least thirty times. The air on the top was then cold, piercing, and of a dry parching The whole of the island shows marks of some terrible revolution that has happened in Teneriffe, of a volcanic nature. The height of this mountain above the level of the sea is reckoned at 12,358 feet. nature. VOL. XXIV. P |