"On minute inspection, how much of amusement and instruction may be derived from the study of flowers,-that study in which Israel's wisest monarch delighted; he who spoke of trees from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop on the wall!' The daisy, insignificant as it apparently is, becomes, on closer observation, an expanse of wonders, a cluster of miracles. Scores of minute blossoms compose its disc and border, each distinct, each useful, each delicately beautiful. The convolvulus and honeysuckle appear to the careless eye to twist in a similar manner round every thing in their neighbourhood; but the botanist discovers that they are governed by different laws, the former always twining itself according to the apparent motion of the sun, the latter in a contrary direction; and when busy man attempts to alter this arrangement, he invariably injures, and perhaps destroys, the plant.

"The heath, so common in the northern parts of this kingdom, and valuable to the poor as a substitute for more expensive fuel, is a striking instance of the care extended by Providence towards his creatures. Its seed is the food of numerous birds, in regions where other sustenance is scarce, and the vessels which contain it are so constructed as to retain their contents for a considerable length of time, instead of discharging them when they become ripe. Indeed, the more closely we observe the provisions and operations of Providence, the greater will be our wonder, the Ligher our admiration.

"The fields of clover, which are now in blossom, produce a delightful fragrance. The bean blossoms also shed a still more exquisite odour. The sweet-scented vernal grass, which is the cause of the very delightful scent of hay, flowers in this month, and diffuses its fragrance through the country. This, if gathered while in blossom, put up in paper, and carried in the pocket, will retain the delightful smell of new-mown hay for a long time. "The rose now holds a conspicuous place in the flowergarden. About the beginning of this month, the pimpernel, thyme, the bitter sweet nightshade, white bryony, the dog-rose, and the poppy, have their flowers full blown.

"The several kinds of corn come into the ear and Bower during this month, as well as most of the numerous species of grasses..

"Gooseberries, currants, and strawberries, now begin to ripen. "The hay-harvest commences about the end of the month, in the southern and midland parts of the kingdom. About this time, also, birds cease their notes.

"The trees, particularly the laurels and evergreens, now make their second or Midsummer shoots, the younger and lighter shades of which form a variety and contrast to the darker and yellow colours of the first shoots. The acacia at length puts out its elegant light, and bright foliage, and its tassels of white flowers, which emulate the orange in scent. The motion of its elegant, penDated leaves is particularly worthy of attention, folding closely back at night, and opening out to catch the morning rays; being as sensible to the stimulus of light, as the mimosa is to the touch, to which tribe and genus, indeed, the acacia belongs.”

BRIEF ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES,

FOR JUNE, 1822.

"On the 4th is FULL MOON, at twenty-three minutes past eight at night. On the 15th she rises in the morning, and is followed about an hour afterwards by Saturn and Venus, whom she will have passed before her next appearance. On the 16th, she is also followed, in about half an hour, by Saturn and Venus to the west of her. Jupiter will afterwards be seen to the east of her, above whom she directs her course. On the 17th, she is followed, soon after her rising, by Jupiter, whom she is perceived to have passed; and on the 19th is New Moon, at thirtytwo minutes past six in the morning. On the 20th, the crescent of the Moon is seen to the west of north-west soon after sun-set, Mercury being to the east of her, as she passes him about half an hour after midnight.

"MERCURY is at his greatest elongation on the 17th, and stationary on the 30th. At first his stay above the horizon, after Sun-set, is nearly an hour and three quarters, and it decreases. to three quarters of an hour. They, who have a favourable horizon in north-west-by-west, cannot fail of discovering him with a glass of moderate power, and many will, notwitstanding the power of the solar ray at this time, detect him with the naked eye.. "VENUS is a morning star. Her stay above the horizon before Sun-rise, at first, is nearly an hour and three quarters, and at the end of the month above two hours and a quarter.

"JUPITER is a morning star. His stay above the horizon, before Sun-rise, at first, is not quite an hour; but he soon emerges from the solar rays, and at the end of the month is above two hours and a half. The principal feature in his course is the passage of Venus by him on the 29th,

"SATURN is a morning star. The chief feature of his course is the passage of Venus by him on the 11th, at a very small distance; and the difference in the appearance of the two planets through a telescope will lead to the contemplation of the apparent differences. between a superior and inferior planet, and also between their respective structures." (Evening Amusements.)

POETRY.

LINES APPLICABLE TO THE MONTH OF JUNE.
(Communicated by MR. W. B. BROWNE.)

O WONDROUS POWER! we see Thee now

In every leaf and bending bough;

Thy praise resounds through all the grove,
In melody to Thee above.

Of such who ask, "If Gon can be?”
I ask, how blossom'd yonder tree ?
Or, how the opening damask rose
Its perfume o'er the garden throws }

In that enamel'd blooming rose,
Your GoD its beauties doth dispose;
Yon lilies fair with modest hue,
Denote their Maker, wise and true.
What fragrance floats upon the breeze,
Which every sense doth highly please;
The hill and dale, they both invite,
And yield us solace and delight.
Each fertile moment teems anew
With added life, and beauty too;
Blessings now swell the womb of earth,
With millions pregnant at a birth.
The seed shoots high above the soil,
The rustic's sweet reward of toil;
Who smiling counts his promis'd gain,
The harvest of his ripening grain.

THE PEACE OF GOD.

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation." (2 Cor. vii. 10.)

THERE is a groan, a piercing groan,

Which springs from hearts by sin dismay'd;
There is a tear, which they alone

Who sorrow for that sin can shed:
That groan, that tear, together join,
To bring the smile of peace divine.
So when the winds of March have cast
Their healthful breathings o'er the plain,
And April's vernal month has past
In genial showers of fertile rain;
Fair nature's face does then display
The sunshine and the flowers of May.

MINISDEN

SAFETY IN THE STORM.
(Mark iv. 37-39.)

LET foaming billows swell and rise,
And rolling waves by tempest driven;
Let thunders rend the nether skies,
And vivid lightning blaze from heaven.
If CHRIST be ours, and whispers peace,
Then all is tranquil, all is still;

The waves, the storm, the thunders cease,
Obedient to his sovereign will.

Hayle Copper-House.

G. B.

TWO HYMNS

Sung by the Jewish Children, at the Parish Church of St. Paul, Covent Garden, on Thursday morning, April 18, 1822, when the Anniversary Sermon was preached before the Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews.

I.

LONG has the harp of Judah hung,
Neglected, broken, and unstrung,
Beneath the willow's shade';
Whilst Israel's solitary bands

By foreign streams, through foreign lands,
In saddest moods have stray'd.

But since our Gon reveals his face,
And smiles upon his chosen race,
We'll take our harp again;
Tun'd, as in former happy days,
To notes of gratitude and praise,
We'll strike a joyful strain.
Our songs shall be of JESU's love,
Who left th' ethereal courts above,
To bear our guilt and shame;
Th' eternal, uncreated Word,
Both DAVID'S SON, and DAVID'S LORD,
JEHOVAH is his name.

So vast the theme, it might inspire
An angel's song, a seraph's lyre,
Such wondrous grace to tell;
Wake, harp of Judah! bear the sound
Far as creation's utmost bound:
All hail, IMMANUEL!

II.

Come, thou glorious day of promise,
Come, and spread thy cheerful ray,
When the scattered sheep of Israel
Shall no longer go astray,

When hosannas

With united voice they cry.

Loan, how long wilt thou be angry,
Shall thy wrath for ever burn?
Rise! redeem thine ancient people,
Their transgressions from them turn:
KING of ISRAEL!

Come and set thy people free.

O that thou would'st soon to Jacob
Thine enlivening Spirit send ;
Of their unbelief and mis'ry,
Make, O LORD! a speedy end.
LORD MESSIAH!

PRINCE OF PEACE! o'er Israel reign.

Glory, honour, praise, and power,
Be unto the LAMB for ever:
JESUS CHRIST is our REDEEMER,
Hallelujah Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!

HYMN FOR SPRING:

· Sung at the Sunday-School Anniversary in Hull, April 8, 1822.
SPARED to another Spring,
We raise our grateful songs;

'Tis pleasant, LORD, thy praise to sing,
For praise to thee belongs.

Ten thousand different flowers
To Thee sweet offerings bear;
And cheerful birds, in shady bowers,
Sing forth thy tender care.

The fields on every side,
The trees on every hill,
The glorious sun, the rolling tide,
Proclaim thy wondrous skill.

But trees, and fields, and skies,
Still praise a God unknown ;
For gratitude and love can rise
From living hearts alone.

These living hearts of ours
Thy holy name would bless ;—
The blossom of ten thousand flowers
Would please the SAVIOUR less!

While earth itself decays,

Our souls can never die!

O tune them all to sing thy praise,

In better songs on high.

Prated by T. CORDEUX, 14, City-Road, London.

A. G.