The revolving year, the subject of my present meditation, fully satisfies my mind on this important point, and presents it, I think, with useful lessons for improvement. The year is an exact similitude of human life. Its different seasons accurately represent the different stages of a man's existence;-youth, manhood, the decline of life, and old age, -whence the most important moral reflections may be drawn. As the untimely frost, in spring, nips the young buds, and blasts the shooting grass; so, thousands are prematurely cut off by the chill hand of death. The same similitude is perceptible between the different stages of human life, and the other seasons of the year. And the man who meditates on such subjects, will always find his reflection of the highest utility to his mental and moral improvement. Another year is about to close for ever; but the actions we have committed, and the events that have transpired, during its course, must stand as swift witnesses for or against we are still here the spared monuments of God's eternal mercy; and although we have not a moment to call our own, yet, so long as we are in the land of the living, we can redeem our time, and its rapid movements tell us that we should do it without delay. When we review the past year, we stand confounded at the havock death has made among the human race. How many thousands began it in perfect health, and contemplated, perhaps, many years of happiness and peace, who now, alas! are numbered with the dead. We, perhaps, living at the commencement of another year, may buoy ourselves up with the hope of seeing its close; but let us reflect that our breath is in our nostrils, ready to depart; and that, so far from health being able to give us a year's security, we cannot insure ourselves of one future moment. Death is powerful, and we must implicitly obey its call, whenever it may come, whether at noon, at midnight, or at cock-crowing. The mightiest conqueror must fall prostrate before the "king of terrors. The greatest achievements sink infinitely beneath his last great conquest-a conquest that will lay waste kingdoms, and subdue principalities and powers-yea, every thing, both small and great-every object, from the most insignificant to the mightiest. But a very few years have revolved since the renowned Napoleon died a hapless exile in the small island of St. Helena—a man, who, only a short time before, had kingdoms at his disposal, and could make or unmake kings at his option-who filled the public eye of the civilized world, and had the principal part of Europe obedient to his nod. One hapless day stripped him of all his honours and his power. He lingered a few years under the mortification of his fate, and was, at last, launched into eternity in the meridian of life. Our Cæsars, our Pompeys, our Alexanders, and Cyruses, have, long ago, gone the way of all the earth. And who knows but the past year has laid low many mighty warriors of the little village, and imagined monarchs of the sequestered vale. Be that as it may, death is impartial, and is irresistible: all men, without distinction of rank or station, as sons of mortality, must submit to it. Henee, during the past year, we have viewed the little infant and the healthy peasant, the village pauper, and the country esquire, the robust and the infirm, fall alike victims to the shafts of death. Have none of us lost a worthy friend, a trusty companion, or a near relative? none of us a parent, husband, or wife? -in short, have none of us to deplore the loss of some one who was near and dear to us, and whose separation from us will be long and severely felt. Nay, who can indulge in such serious contemplations without feeling that he has been deprived by death of some one whose memory he fondly cherishes? I cannot. I have lost a friend,* and a friend, too, endeared to me by every tie that could sanctify that sacred appellation, who, at the commencement of the present year, had as little reason to anticipate so speedy a dissolution as any of us-a friend cut off in the meridian of life and usefulness, while his "breasts were full of milk, and his bones full of marrow," and when we were fondly looking forward to many a happy meeting, for the enjoyment of social intercourse with him: but he has left us behind to cope with the world a few years longer, and has gone to a place where, I hope, we should wish to follow him; and, as we must all die, and the time of our departure is uncertain, shut up in the inscrutable decrees of heaven, and quite mysterious to human comprehension, let us always be on our watchtower, ready, at every moment, to obey the summons of the "invincible" enemy! ed. The closing of the year should be Addison has a beautiful allegory illustrative of this, in the bridge on which he represents the human race to be travelling, and falling through, at every arch, into the river below. To conclude: As we cannot guard against the shafts of death, it becomes us to prepare for the solemn event, through repentance and faith,-the medium of God's appointment. Then shall we be secure, whether destined to see the revolutions of a few more years, or called hence even before the rising of another sun. And amidst all the uncertainties of human life, we shall calmly contemplate the happiness of a purer sphere, yet patiently wait the welcome summons. I am, Sir, your's, most respectfully, THOMAS IRELAND. Bridge-Hall, Doncaster, Dec. 13, 1824. COMPARATIVE INUTILITY OF LEARNING A thousand accidents we are liable to, a thousand dangers surround us, and yet so far have we braved the tempestuous ocean of human life-so far I feel myself greatly honoured by have we been spared, whilst multi-your having thought it worth while to tudes on our right hand, and on our bring forth Milton (col. 1140) on my left, as likely to live as ourselves, have account; and I should think so, even been summoned before their God, if his authority tended to confute my since the opening of the present year. arguments; but, as this is very far This consideration should teach us from being the case, I cannot but rehumility, and resignation to the divine joice at my coinciding with so eminent will. Not having one moment to call a character. There is nothing in the our own, we ought to pass no part of our given extract but what fully confirms time carelessly or indifferently. Op- my own ideas on the subject; and if portunities should be improved to the Milton says "that not every nation very best advantage;-every mispent affords experience and tradition hour redeemed and our whole con- enough for all kind of learning," this duct scrupulously and rigidly examin- was perfectly true in his time, but it is altered now; Old England, at present, contains infinitely more information, on all known subjects, than any * Mr. George Scarbrough, Ravenstonedale, Westmoreland. states were on a small one: enlightened ideas are, more or less, spreading over all the inhabited and known parts of the earth. They have even penetrated among the very savages, and they are likely to fructify through the natural progress of time. There is no danger of our forgetting the knowledge which we have acquired, but there is some of our not using it in the right manner. country of antiquity ever possessed. | a large scale, what the various Grecian Milton himself has largely contributed to this state of things; for his genius has kindled the latent sparks in some of his admirers; and, if he were to be called into life again, he would soon perceive that there is no longer that great necessity for studying the dead languages which once existed. This would be the more plain to him, as he himself only maintained their utility on account of the knowledge which they conveyed, and not because he thought them objects of study, for the sake of words and phrases. Besides, Milton evidently spoke of people who were destined for the learned professions, or of still higher classes, which do not come under the denomination of the middle station, in whose behalf the late inquiry had been made. I have not asserted that pedantry was necessarily allied to classic literature, or that a knowledge of it was attended by an ignorance in the vernacular tongue. This would have been speaking against my own conviction, since I have the pleasure of numbering some highly accomplished scholars among my personal acquaintances. But I have said, and I say again, that the mere acquirement of classical lore neither expands the mind nor sharpens the understanding; and, since Milton said exactly the same thing, I do not think myself obliged to exhibit any "classical block I now proceed to the letter of your correspondent W. S. junior, (col. 1143) and I cannot do less than compliment this gentleman on the moderation with which he expresses himself, on what seems, nevertheless, to concern him so nearly; but I do not ex-head" as proofs of my assertion. actly see how my statement can have strengthened his opinion in favour of ancient literature. A man in business may, most undoubtedly, make a better use of his leisure hours than that of reading the ancient bards. The bards and philosophers of his own country will employ quite as much of his time as he can conveniently spare from his duties; and if he wishes to be a little acquainted with what is going on in the real world, he will find that the events of his own time are quite as interesting as the siege of Troy and the adventures of Æneas; nay, that he has not even the slightest need of Jupiter and his family, either to procure him relaxation, or to exalt his soul. A superficial knowledge of Greek and Latin would not enable him to judge of the good things which have been written in those languages; and a serious study can only so far be an amusement, as the object for which it is undertaken will actually reward the trouble. Our not cultivating the dead languages, will not plunge us again into barbarism: this is morally impossible, and nothing short of a second deluge could produce such an effect in the present condition of the world. The different civilized nations are now, on Your correspondent shews, by his own letter, that a lover of the ancient authors may, also, pay due respect to the modern ones, and write his own language with correctness: but it would, perhaps, be not quite so easy for him to demonstrate, that an individual who knows no other language than his mother-tongue, must needs be considered as ignorant; such a man may have learned a number of things which are of much greater importance than dialects, and which will enable him to be of much greater service to his friends, than if he knew all the poems of antiquity by heart. How can W. S. assert that he who has passed his life in the acquirement of one thing (one language) is justly regarded as an ignorant blockhead? when he knows that his favourite Greeks were exactly in that predicament, since they cultivated no dialect but their own. The Romans studied the Greek tongue, because they had occasion for it; they were complete novices in the higher branches of arts and philosophy; but such is not the case with us. Our knowledge in worldly things is far superior to that of the ancients, and our morals do not want the support of Homer's mythology or of Plato's reveries.-Your's, Liverpool, Dec. 13, 1824. L. MAN Geological Discovery.-A cavern which promises to be of much geological interest, has been lately discovered on the Mendip hills, Somersetshire. Like those of Yorkshire, the soil which covers its floor is replete with the bones of quadrupeds; the remains which have yet been found, consist principally of the ox and the deer, but some imperfect canine teeth, apparently of the hyæna, have also been discovered, and it is probable that further researches will lead to important results. The circumstances connected with the discovery are as follows:-A few years ago some miners having sunk a perpendicular shaft in search of calamine, suddenly came upon a deep fissure, which, after descending about 120 feet in an oblique direction, opened into a spacious cavern, 150 feet long, by 30 feet wide, and 30 high. It was lately judged desirable to obtain, if possible, an easier access to this vault; and with this view another opening on the face of the bill, about a furlong distant, (which, from its direction, it was hoped might communicate with the principal cavern,) was explored. On removing the fragments of rock with which it was partly choked, it was found to lead to a low passage, which, after extending a few feet, again expanded into a vault of large dimensions, though much inferior to those of the principal cavern. The floor of this chamber was covered to a considerable depth with the calcareous, and interspersed with angular fragments of the limestone rock, and bones were found dispersed through this mass. This, vault terminated in another low descending passage, entirely choked by sand and bones; beyond this point the fissure has not as yet been cleared, but from the close analogy of the spot with the other caverns which have been found most productive of quadrupedal remains, and from the circumstance that all the teeth of an elephant were formerly discovered in a similar fissure, about three miles distant, upon Hatton Hill, there is every reason to believe that further examination would be well repaid. The bones procured from Hutton Hill were collected by the late Rev. Mr. Catcott, and are preserved in the Bristol Library. It is understood that the curator of that establishment is at present engaged in an examination of this interesting spot. Fecundity of Fish.-The increase of fish is said to be in the following proportion:-A flounder of 2 ounces contains 133,407 eggs or spawn; one of 24 ounces, 1,357,403. Herrings weighing from 4 ounces to 6, from 21,283 to 36,960. Lobsters from 14 to 36 ounces, contain 21,699. Mackerel of 20 ounces, 454,961. Prawn, about 3806. Shrimps, from 2849 to 6807. Smelts, from 14,411 to 38,278. Soal of 5 ounces, 38,772; one of 14 ounces contains 100,362. To which may be added the cod, which produces 3,686,700; and a ling, 19,248,625. Excavations at Pompeii.-New diggings have lately been made in the ruins of Pompeii, and a very beautiful bust of Cicero has been found in good preservation. Upon it is observable the chicken pea (cicer) which procured him the sirname he has rendered so illustrious. It seems that the ancient sculptors were very accurate in making exact resemblances. Effect of Oxygen on Glow-worms.—It is an interesting experiment (says Mr. Parkes,) to place a glow-worm within a jar of oxygen gas in a dark room. The insect will shine with a much greater brilliancy than it does in atmospheric air. As the luminous appearance depends on the will of the animal, this experiment probably affords an instance of the stimulus which this gas gives to the animal sys tem. Origo has just made, at Rome, a successful New Engine for quenching Fire.-Marquis trial of a new fire-engine. By this method, the water propelled in mass, and falling in torrents on all the parts on fire, covers them instantly with so great a volume of water, that the most impetuous flames are compelled to The experiment was made with great success yield to this species of universal inundation. by the inventor, in the presence of a great number of savans. both with reference to the handiness of the It perfectly succeeded, apparatus, and the rapidity of the result, which did not require more than a few minutes. Literary Notices. Just Published. The Sixth Part of the Mechanic's Oracle, or Artisan's Complete Laboratory and Workshop. 4to. With illustrative Engravings, by Lowry and others. 2s. Memoirs of Mrs. Elizabeth Harvard, late of the Wesleyan Mission to Ceylon and India; with Extracts from her Diary and Correspondence. By her Husband. 2s. 6d. Part III, of Sermons and Plans of Sermons, on many of the most important Texts of Holy Scripture. By the late Rev. Joseph Benson. 8vo. 6s. boards. The Rev. B. S. Claxson, M.A. has just published Twenty-two Discourses on Various Subjects, delivered in St. Michael's Church, Gloucester. Horæ Romanæ, or an Attempt to Illustrate St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. By Robert Cox, M.A. 3s. The Bible Dictionary, containing Explanations of the Principal Words in the Holy Scriptures. 1s. 6d. An Essay on the Obligation of Christians to observe the Lord's Supper every Lord's Day. By J. M. Cramp. 2s. Tasso and the Sisters, &c. &c. Poems. By Thomas Wade. The Plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures asserted, &c. in Six Lectures. By the Rev. S. Noble. 8vo. 13s. Youth on leaving School. 4th edition. By Self-Cultivation Recommended, or Hints to Isaac Taylor, of Ongar. 5s. boards. Harry's Holiday, or the Doings of One who had Nothing to Do. 2s. 6d. half-bound. By the same Author. In the Press, &c. Pascal's Thoughts on Religion and other Important Subjects. Translated by the Rev. Edward Craig, A.M. With a Biographical Memoir. Foolscap 8vo. A New Edition of Doddridge's Family Expositor. In 1 very large vol. super royal 8vo. With a beautiful Portrait on steel. Popery in 1824; a Circular Letter of Pope Leo the Twelfth, to all the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church; and the Bull of Jubilee, for the Year 1825. Translated from the Original Latin, with an Introduction and Notes. Price 6d. Memoir of Mr. William Howden, who died May 21, 1823, aged 23. 3s. 6d. boards. Early in January will be published, Richard Baynes's General Cheap Catalogue of Old and New Books, for 1825, including many curious and rare Articles. J. H. Wiffen's Second Volume of his Translation of Tasso, which was destroyed at the late fire of Mr. Moyes's, is again at press, and will make its appearance in the same style of embellishment as the First Volume, in May or April next. Shortly will be re-published, edited by the Rev. Thomas Young, of Margate, A Collection of Texts of Scripture, with short Notes and other Observations upon them, against the principal Popish Errors. Written by a Divine of the Church of England, A.D. 1688. 4. W. is desirous of information where he may find an authentic account of the dress, manners, and habits, domestic and military, of the Welsh in the 14th century. He would be glad to see a short dissertation on the subject? 5. J. S. would be glad to know on what scripture authority the belief of different degrees of reward in heaven is founded? 6. E. B. asks-What is the breadth of the apparent disk which Jupiter presents to the inhabitants of his 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th satellites; and what distance is each of those attendant orbs from the centre of its primary planet? 7. A Juvenile Reader asks-Why must a pendulum which vibrates seconds be shorter at the equator than at the poles? COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT, LONDON, 27th DEC. 1824. It is a pleasing duty which we have to discharge, in paying our customary respects to the circle of our friends, at this season, and, with no small gratification, we lay before our readers a favourable political and commercial report of the past year. The revenue department of the kingdom is such, as enables Ministers to follow up a system widely differing from that which urgent calls on the Exchequer, not long since, made compulsory: the diminution in the taxes, this year, is stated below, with a prospect of still further abatement. Reduction of Taxes in 1824.-Foreign wool, 350,000; Silk, 460,000; Coals, 200,000; Rum, 150,000; Law stamps, 200,000.-Total, £1,360,000. We hope government will soon be enabled to abandon the whole of the Assessed Taxes, and also that on coals coming coastways. It would be pleasing if the Legislature patronized the establishment of public markets in the out-parishes of the Metropolis, and in such towns as were only villages a few years since, and were to distribute a million per annum, to assist Corporations, Parishes, and other public bodies, to carry into effect works of national importance. If government were to investigate parochial, and such like expenditure, perhaps a million or two might be saved to the people. Government is likewise pursuing a system of liberality, as regards commerce, which meets with great approbation from all persons of enlightened minds; nor have the Legislature been unmindful of those internal regulations, which, like the arrangements in a well-governed family, afford to trade uniform consistency. A Bill is passed for the better equalizing weights and measures, as, also, one for consolidating the duties of customs and excise. It is a proof of a prevailing state of tranquillity, and the prospect of a continuance of peace, when we notice the bigh price of British and Foreign Securities; we have, however, some doubts whether speculations in this way be not carried beyond the bounds of prudence, while so many articles, comparatively low, in the markets of commerce, are neglected. The interest of money, vested in any of the following securities, at the present market price, is as follows: |