"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. O WONDROUS POWER! we see Thee now In every leaf and bending bough; Thy praise resounds through all the grove, Of such who ask, "If Gon can be?” In that enamel'd blooming rose, 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; Who sorrow for that sin can shed: MINISDEN SAFETY IN THE STORM. LET foaming billows swell and rise, The waves, the storm, the thunders cease, 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, By foreign streams, through foreign lands, But since our Gon reveals his face, So vast the theme, it might inspire II. Come, thou glorious day of promise, When hosannas With united voice they cry. Loan, how long wilt thou be angry, Come and set thy people free. O that thou would'st soon to Jacob PRINCE OF PEACE! o'er Israel reign. Glory, honour, praise, and power, HYMN FOR SPRING: · Sung at the Sunday-School Anniversary in Hull, April 8, 1822. 'Tis pleasant, LORD, thy praise to sing, Ten thousand different flowers The fields on every side, But trees, and fields, and skies, These living hearts of ours 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. |