-Mr. Whitehurst taught that the concentric arrangement of the crust of the globe was destroyed by the expansive force of subterranean fire.-Burnet's theory supposes this crust to have been broken for the production of the deluge.-Leibnitz and Buffon believed the earth to have been liquified by fire; in fact, that it is an extinguished sun or vitrified globe, whose surface has been operated upon by a deluge. The latter assumes that the earth was 75,000 years in cooling to its present temperature, and that in 98,000 years more, productive nature must be finally extinguished.-Woodward considered there was a temporary dissolution of the elements of the globe, during which period the extraneous fossils became incorporated with the general mass.-De Luc, Dolomieu, and, finally, Baron Cuvier, unite in the opinion, that the phenomena exhibited by the earth, particularly the alternate deposits of terrestrial and marine productions, can only be satisfactorily accounted for by a series of revolutions similar to the deluge.Among the singular views entertained by men of genius, in the infancy of the science, are those of Whiston, "who fancied that the earth was created from the atmosphere of one comet, and deluged by the tail of another;" and that, for their sins, the antediluvian population were drowned; "except the fishes, whose passions were less violent."-A French geologist conceived that the sea covered the earth for a vast period; that all animals were originally inhabitants of the water; that their habits gradually changed on the retiring of the waves, and "that man himself began his career as a fish!"

SINGING BIRDS.

Those who have paid attention to the singing of birds, know well that their voice, energy and expression, differ as widely as those of man; and agreeably to this remark, Mr. Wilson (the celebrated ornithologist) says he was so familiar with the notes of an individual wood thrush, that he could

recognise him from all his fellows the moment he entered the woods.

POWER OF THE SUN'S RAYS. Mr. Mackintosh, contractor for the government works at Stonehouse Point, Devon, lately had to descend in the diving-bell with workmen to lay the foundation of a sea wall. The machine is fitted with convex glasses, in the upper part, to serve the purpose of windows; and Mr. Mackintosh states, that on several occasions, in clear weather, he has witnessed the sun's rays so concentrated by the circular windows, as to burn the laborers' clothes, when opposed to the focal point, and this when the machine was twenty-five feet under the surface of the water.

NEW THERMOMETER.

A horizontal thermometer has been invented at Paris, of which report speaks highly. A letter from M. de Humboldt characterises it as an excellent instrument.

DIAMOND PRODUCED FROM CARBON.

In the sitting of the Parisian Academy of Sciences, of the 10th of November last, M. Arago submitted a communication from M. Cagnart-Latour, a chemist, in which he affirms that he succeeded in crystallizing portions of carbon, so as to obtain the substance called "diamonds;" that his process differs from that pursued by M. Gannal; and that a sealed packet, which was deposited with the secretary in 1824, contains the details of his first operations. M. Arago added, that he knew another party who had obtained similar results; and M. Gay-Lussac asserted that M. Gannal had conversed with him on the subject of his essays, at various times, for more than eight years past.

RICE.

Trials have recently been made to grow the dry rice of China in Italy; and it is expected that in time an advantageous cultivation of it may be introduced in France.

CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.

A BILL for Catholic Emancipation was introduced to the House of Lords by the Duke of Wellington, and to the House of Commons by Mr. Peel, on the meeting of Parliament in February, and passed.

We rejoice most heartily in a victory which, by whatever arms achieved, is at once rightful, certain, and immediate. The shaft which hath struck down our quarry, is not the less welcome because it has come from what has been hitherto a hostile bow; the winds which have wafted us into harbor have our gratitude, though yesterday they were making sad havoc with our rigging. From this hour agitation may subside, and bigotry be still; the Irish barrister may leave his unfinished metaphor-the Hampshire curate may burn his no Popery discourse: Captain Rock has thrown up his commission-Sir Harcourt's occupation is gone. In a word, Catholic Emancipation is carried.

The Duke of Wellington can scarcely be called inconsistent in the course he now pursues. No one ever seriously suspected that he had formed any very inflexible opinion upon the subject of the Catholic claims. With Mr. Peel the case is not the same. If he has not incurred the guilt of apostacy, he has certainly deserved its obloquy and he must be content to bear it.

The statesman who abandons in a few months the opinion which he has upheld for many years, may possibly be a convert; he is, primâ facie, a renegade.

When history shall treat of the epoch which saw the abolition of a set of restrictions continued through so many years, for reasons which she will scarcely be able to explain, she will not bestow her rewards upon the laborers who came at the eleventh hour, but upon those who bore the

burden and heat of the day. She will write, that Catholic emancipation was carried by our Lansdowne and our Holland, our Canning and our Brougham. These men, and their coadjutors, have persevered through good report and evil report, in the recommendation of a policy which the throne has at last sanctioned, and which Great Britain, to the remotest ages, will have daily more reason to bless. Unsupported by the authority of official station, they have exercised over public opinion an influence to which those in official station have been compelled to bow. Whatever despotism may do on the continent, they have fortified in these islands a safe home for civil and religious liberty.

LEARNING.

Learning raises up against us many enemies among the low, and more among the powerful; yet does it invest us with grand and glorious privileges, and confers on us a largeness of beatitude. Nothing is past which we desire to be present; and we enjoy, by anticipation, somewhat like the power which I imagine we shall possess hereafter, of sailing on a wish from world to world.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL FEELINGS.

While the loud torrent and the whirlwind's roar, But bind them to their native rocks the more. GOLDSMITH.

The beautiful and pathetic song of Lochaber, is known to, and admired by, all who have an ear for music or a soul for poetry; but heard by a Highlander in a distant land, and amid other scenes, the effect is similar to that produced on the Swiss by their national air, the Ranz des Vaches-it inspires a sad and earnest longing to return to the place of their nativity, the early haunts of their youth. The following anecdote was related to me

by the medical gentleman who witnessed the effect: and at the same time that it tends to corroborate my assertion, it also proves how powerful is the sympathy existing between this our "tenement of clay" and its celestial inmate, the soul.

It was the fate of Dr. C. to accompany a Highland regiment across the Atlantic, to "a far distant shore." The station where the troops were encamped was very healthy, the climate particularly good judge, then, of the surprise of the good doctor to find his soldiers falling sick daily, and his hospital filled with invalids,-whilst, as he could not discover the disease, he could apply no remedy.

One evening the moon shone so unusually bright, the scene from his window was so lovely, as the beams played upon the rippling water, or gave light and shadow to the magnificent forest-trees near his abode-that he was tempted to take a solitary ramble,

"Musing on days long past, And pleasures gone forever by :"the sound of the bagpipe struck upon his ear, and attracted him towards the barracks, where the piper was playing, in the most touching manner,

"Lochaber no more!

May be, to return to Lochaber no more." Dr. C. approached the large room unobserved, and, looking in, found all his men assembled, and all in deep emotion-some recumbent on the floor, some reclined against the wall, many in tears, and one, burying his face in his hands, sobbed aloud. My friend retired to his quarters: on the following morning he sent for the piper, and, bribing him to secresy, commanded him in future to play nothing but lively airs, reels, strathspeys, and marches; but never, on pain of his displeasure, to breathe Lochaber again. The piper obeyed the effect was magical -the invalids revived, and in a very short time not one remained in the hospital.

This anecdote, which I know to be true, inspired me with a most ardent desire to see Lochaber-scenes must

be beautiful which produced such a powerful effect upon the mind. Last summer, passing through the magnificent scenery of the northern lakes of Scotland, I came upon Lochaber: Ben Nevis reared his crowned head-at his base stood a cluster of miserable hovels, in a swamp where every breeze that passes by whispers "ague"-each hut is formed of wood and turf gathered from the morass beneath their feet-a hole in the roof forms the chimney-a hole in the side is the window, and in some of the huts window and door in one-not a tree to be seen-yet dear as life to the Highlander is the memory of Lochaber.

ABERNETHYANA.

The following is the last and best that we have heard of the above-named gentleman. We should premise, that the details of it are a little altered, with the view of adapting it to "ears polite"; for, without some process of this kind, it would not have been presentable. A lady went to the Doctor in great distress of mind, and stated to him, that, by a strange accident, she had swallowed a live spider. At first, his only reply was, "whew! whew! whew!" a sort of internal whistling sound, intended to be indicative of supreme contempt. But his anxious patient was not so easily repulsed. She became every moment more and more urgent for some means of relief from the dreaded effect of the strange accident she had consulted him about; when, at last, looking round upon the wall, he put up his hand, and caught a fly. "There, Ma'am," said he, "I've got a remedy for you.

Open your mouth; and as soon as I've put this fly into it, shut it close again; and the moment the spider bears the fly buzzing about, up he'll come; and then you can spit them both out together."

WELSH MARRIAGES.

It appears to me a matter of no small surprise that so economical a people as the English should not have adopted such a plan as the following

by the lower classes of the Welsh. When a young couple intend offering themselves at the Temple of Hymen, if they are very poor, they generally send a man, called the bidder, round to their acquaintance and friends, who invites them, sometimes in rhyme, to the wedding; but if they can afford it, they issue circulars. The following is a copy of one :

June 27, 1827. "As we intend to enter the matrimonial state on Thursday, the 19th day of July next, we are encouraged by our friends to make a bidding on the occasion, the same day, at the Butchers' Arms, Carmarthen, when and where the favor of your good and agreeable company is humbly solicited; and whatever donation you may please to confer on us then, will be thankfully received, warmly acknowledged, and cheerfully repaid whenever called for

on a similar occasion.

"By your most obedient servants, "JOHN JONES, "MARY EVANS."

The persons so invited (if they accept the invitation) generally form part of the procession to church, and are preceded by a harper or fiddler. After the nuptial knot is tied, they veer their course to the public-house mentioned in the bills, where they partake, not of a sumptuous banquet, but of the simple, though not the worst, fare of bread and cheese and kisses, at the expense of the new married folks. After this, a large plate is placed on the table in the room, and they proceed to receive the money which each person may be disposed to give, whilst one keeps account of the sum and names. They frequently receive 501., and sometimes, though seldom, 100l.; and they have the privilege (by paying the duty) of selling the ale to the persons assembled. is to be observed, that the money so deposited cannot be reclaimed by the persons who gave it until a similar occasion presents itself in their family. By this means the new married couple are enabled to procure furniture, and other things requisite for them.

It

CHRONOLOGY.

May 1. 304.-Dioclesian, a celebrated Roman emperor, publicly abdicated the crown, after a reign of twenty-two years, in the greatest prosperity, and retired to a private station at Salona, his native place, where he is said to have found more felicity in cultivating his garden, than he had formerly enjoyed in a palace in the plenitude dignity from the rank of a common soldier; of his power. He had risen to the imperial so had the means of appreciating the relative value of the opposite extremes in huden, one of the most eminent English poets man condition. 1700.-Died, John Dryof the 17th century. His works are various; he translated Virgil, Juvenal, and Persius, chiefly satirical, and twenty-seven plays. besides writing a great number of poems, Mrs. Montague gave for many years, on May-day, an entertainment at her house in Portman-square to all the chimney-sweepthe old English fare of roast-beef and plumers in London. They were regaled with pudding. A dance succeeded; and, upon their departure, each joyous guest received the donation of a shilling from the liberal mistress of the feast.

May 3. 1495.-Columbus discovered the island of Jamaica, in the West Indies. 1655.-Jamaica was taken from the Spaniards by the English, who have remained in possession of it ever since; an acquisition which they owe to the enterprising spirit of Cromwell,

May 6. This is the day chosen by the Greeks for the festival of Joв, celebrated for his patience, and who dwelt in the land of Uz. The worship of him is of great antiquity, and very extensive among the The latter keep his Greeks and Latins.

festival on the 10th of May.

May 8. 1794.-Lavoisier, the celebrated French chemist, and medical writer, guillotined under the tyranny of Robespierre. 1814.-Bonaparte, who had been nearly ten Elba as an exile. years emperor of the French, landed at

May 11. 1778.-Expired, William Pitt, earl of Chatham, a distinguished statesman and orator.

May 12. 1541.-The Earl of Stafford, a tyrannical minister in the reign of Charles the 21st of April in the same year, assured I., beheaded. The letter by Charles, on him, "on the word of a king, that he should not suffer in life, honor, or fortune."