Alps. In this list, only such plants are introduced as have true representatives in Central Europe. The second, containing the plants of the lake, proper, or the aquatic plants; the third comprising the plants purely American; and the fourth the cosmopolitan plants, or those which extend beyond the sub-Alpine region." - P. 152, and notes.

In examining these lists, we notice some peculiarities; as, for instance, the occurrence of plants in this sub-Alpine region, which belong, also, to more southern regions: such extensive ranges of particular plants are attributed to the general direction of our mountain chains, and to the form of the American continent, which allow both animals and plants, peculiar to arctic and temperate zones, to extend to considerable distances beyond. Again, the absence of species of the Caryophyllaceae, is accounted for by the observed fact that, although abundant in the Alpine districts of Europe, yet they belong both to Alpine regions and to plains, and are not at home in intermediate or sub-Alpine regions. No species of Malvaceae, nor of families intervening between them and the Leguminosa, are represented about Lake Superior; the former belong to warm countries, and the latter, like the Caryophyllacea, are either plants of higher regions, or else are to be found in the lower plains. Of plants representing the Ericaceae, several beautiful forms, as seen about the lake, are determined to be the same as those of Europe; a group, indeed, more homogeneous than any other in its distribution, affecting the pine forests, and following them to more or less elevated spots. With few exceptions, the Amentacea about Lake Superior are represented as the same as the European; while the resemblance of the Conifera (pines) is so striking as to require the eye of the botanist to be satisfied that they are only corresponding species.

We have already noticed the ubiquitous character of the cryptogams; so identical are the species of equisetaceæ, ferns, and lycopodiaceæ, observed by the party, with those of the sub-Alpine regions of Europe, that, with the same observations applied to the mosses, lichens, and hepaticæ, no parallel list was deemed necessary; the specific conditions of their occurrence in the Jura being merely noted.

Some new species of plants were detected, of which mention is made of a beautiful corallorhiza, first discovered by Macrae, in West Canada; and several new species and varieties of lichens, as brought to light through the study of the collection, by Mr. Edward Tuckerman, whose extensive knowl

edge, and whose scientific acumen, in this particular department of botany, are well known.

To render complete this comparative view of the vegetation with that of the Jura and the Alps, M. Lesquereux institutes a special comparison of the distribution of trees and other plants found in each. The series of vegetation on the sides and slopes of mountains are defined with such an accuracy as to enable us to divide them into belts or zones. As the tourist ascends mountain heights, he will notice the disappearance of certain species and the appearance of others, until, by degrees, he is introduced to a style of vegetation entirely distinct from any thing he has before seen. If these features should be represented upon a wide surface of country, it would be found necessary to pass over many parallels of latitude. Such a comparison being attempted, it places at the 40° north latitude that zone of vegetation which, in this country, corresponds with the upper limit of the culture of the vine in the Jura. Above this, at an elevation of from sixteen hundred to seventeen hundred feet, begins the region of oaks and of shrubs, represented by our forest-trees and shrubs, so well described by Mr. Emerson, in his "Report on the Forest Trees of Massachusetts." As we travel towards the degrees of latitude where the St. Lawrence bends towards the north-east, we shall find great changes in the growth of trees. Along the northern shores of Lake Ontario, for instance, the hickories, the chestnut, the buttonwood, the white-oak, and the sassafras, begin to disappear. At the height of two thousand feet, in the Jura, and above the region of the oaks, is a narrow region characterized particularly by one or two species of trees, and interspersed with a great variety of ornamental shrubs. Above this elevation, and to three thousand five hundred feet altitude, the beech flourishes; while from the line of the beech to four thousand five hundred feet in the Jura, and to six thousand feet in the Alps, may be seen the region of the pines, or coniferæ, which is represented by the forest growth about Mackinaw, where the canoe-birch, black ash, balsam fir, white spruce, black spruce, American larch, white pine, mountain ash, (sorbus,) poplars, and low shrubs entirely obtain. The northernmost point visited by Professor Agassiz was Nipignon Bay, latitude 49°, where the pine forests prevailed, with occasional instances of ash, maple, and sorbus, a region still within the limits of a sub-Alpine vegetation.

From an inspection of the plants growing on the summit of

a mountain, upon St. Ignace Island, rising one thousand feet above the level of the lake, no difference could be perceived which such altitude made in the character of the flora, from that seen on the shores. This seeming anomaly is attributed to the influence which such an extensive sheet of water, as Lake Superior is, would have upon the temperature about its precipitous shores, and also upon considerable altitudes in its vicinity. Such an exception is thought of not sufficient importance to invalidate the laws of the geographical distribution of plants; and by a cursory view of the distribution of the plants of the White Mountains, of New Hampshire, where the climate of their slopes is removed from any such disturbing agency, the zones of vegetation are well marked. Thus already, at the head waters of the Connecticut, an alteration in the aspect of the forests is to be seen; while at fifteen hundred feet above the sea, the oaks disappear, to be succeeded, in a large proportion, by the pines; still higher, at forty-three hundred and fifty feet, the spruces and birches, which compose the vegetation, have become mere shrubs. Above this level the forests cease, and plants, reminding one of the flora of Greenland, and which grow, also, on the northern shores of Lake Superior, are now met with; while at the summit itself, at the height of six thousand two hundred and eighty feet, are found the representatives of the climate of Labrador.

We have thus sketched the principal features of the portion of this work of Professor Agassiz, which is devoted to botanical considerations, regarding it as an interesting and valuable document. Nor would we omit to notice the list of foreign nat uralized plants, found growing between Boston and Salem, as presenting some curious facts. The list is a large one, and it shows how dispersive are certain vegetables, how attendant on the footsteps of man. Wherever he has trod, and carried with him the arts of life, flowers have sprung up around his footsteps. Would they were emblems of his mission, everywhere on the earth's surface, in the highest cause of humanity! Along the highways, and over the cultivated fields of peaceful agriculture, and beside the iron tracks of commercial intercourse, where they suddenly appear, coming from afar to designate his presence, may they typify that garland of fraternity and of common interest which shall encircle all mankind in one bond of brotherhood.

ART. V. SOME THOUGHTS ON THE DIFFERENT OPINIONS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT RELATIVE TO THE PERSONALITY OF JESUS.

I. LET us first ascertain the opinion prevalent in the lifetime of Jesus himself, as the basis of our inquiry. It appears from the New Testament that the contemporaries of Jesus regarded him as the son of Joseph and Mary, (Matt. 13: 55, Luke 4: 22, John 6: 42.) His brothers and sisters also are mentioned, (oi áseλqoi avrou,) and Jesus is called the first-born son of Mary, (tov лowiórozov,) in some manuscripts, and the common editions, (Matt. 1: 25.) In the third gospel, the author calls Joseph and Mary his parents, (of yovɛis avrov,) and Mary herself is represented as calling Joseph his father. In the fourth gospel, Philip speaks of Jesus as the son of Joseph of Nazareth, (John 1: 45.)

The genealogies still preserved, in the first and third gospel, in curious contradiction to his divine origin, proceed on the supposition that Jesus had two human parents,—a mortal father, as well as a mortal mother. So, on the side of his father, his descent is traced back to Abraham in the one author, and to Adam in the other.

The Ebionites, who were the primitive Christians, it seems always adhered to the opinion that Jesus was a man, born and begotten in the common way, selected and anointed, and so becoming the Christ, not by his birth, but his selection and inspiration. It seems highly probable that this was the opinion of the earliest church at Jerusalem."

It seems that the celebrated Gospel according to the Hebrews, regarded Jesus as a man born after the common way, and made his divinity commence only with the baptism by John; for after the descent of the Holy Spirit it is stated, "There came a voice out of heaven and said, Thou art my beloved Son, this day have I begotten thee." Justin found this passage in the Memoirs of the Apostles extant in his time,† and it is still preserved, with many other curious and instructive

* See Justin Martyr, Dial. cum Tryphone, cap. 49, (Opp. ed. Otto, Tom. II. p. 156,) and Eusebius, H. E. Lib. III., 27 (ed. Heinichen, Tom. I. p. 252.) See also Schwegler, Nachapostolische Zeitalter, (Tübingen, 1846, 2 vols. 8vo.) B. I. p. 90, et seq.

Dial. cum Tryphone, cap. 88. (Tom. II. p. 308.) See too Epiphanius Haeres. xxx. 13, and Schwegler, l. c. B. I. p. 197, et seq.

readings, in the celebrated Cambridge manuscript, the Codex Beza, (Luke 3: 22.)

These monuments very plainly refer us to a period when it may reasonably be supposed that the prevalent opinion among the followers of Jesus was, that he was a man born after the common way, of two human parents, and subsequently became the Christ, the Hebrew Messiah. This is the nature and this the office assigned him. Such is the basis on which successive deposits of speculation have been made and continue to be made. It is no part of our present concern to determine what the Christians at first thought of his history, of his miracles, and of his resurrection, for we limit our inquiry to the nature and office of Jesus.

II. In the first and third gospels, as they now stand in manuscripts and editions, it is taught that Jesus was the son of Mary and a holy spirit, (Matt. 1: 18, and Luke 1: 35, it is in both cases πνεῦμα ἅγιον, hot τ ὸ πνεῦμα ἅγιον.) He was miraculously born, with no human father. He is also the Christ, the Hebrew Messiah, predicted in the Old Testament. He is called the Son of God, ( vios tov Oɛov.) He is endowed with miraculous powers, is transfigured, returns to life after his crucifixion, and is to come back yet once more. Such is the highest office, and such is the highest nature assigned him in the first and third gospel.

There is, however, one curious passage in Matth. 11: 27, and Luke 10: 22, in which Jesus is represented as saying, “All things are delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows who is the Son, except the Father, and who is the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son is pleased to reveal him." This passage may possibly mean only that Jesus is the complete possessor of his Messianic powers, and he alone knows who is the Messiah, and alone understands the character of God. But to us it seems to have a different meaning, and to stand in plain contradiction to the general notion of Jesus entertained in these two gospels. It will presently appear to what a different class of speculations this verse seems to belong.

The second gospel calls Jesus a son of God, (viòs Oɛou, not ó viós, except 3: 11, &c., where uninformed persons speak,) but is not quite so definite in its statements as the two other gospels already referred to; but it does not seem probable that the author designed to set forth a distinct theory of the nature and office of Christ peculiar to himself, only to avoid difficul