well sheltered valley produces the most salutary effects. Does the east wind rage with fury, or cold, with its freezing particles, visit us from the north— the deep-sunk bosom of the valley, or the lee-side of the mountain, defend us from the fury of the tempest, and shelter us from the raging storm.

By this happy diversity of towering mountain and sinking dale, we have a variety of soil in a small compass, and are furnished with the productions of different climates almost at our doors. These serve also for the harbour and lodgment of a variety of animals that would have been ill accomodated in the open plain. They are also convenient not only for the generating of metals and minerals, but for digging them out with infinitely less trouble and expense than if they had been situate at considerable distances below a level surface; and mountains are the birth-place of many valuable Mines and precious Stones.

In the burning regions of the torrid zone, ridges of mountains, running from East to West, arrest with their towering heads the vapours in their flight, and. condensed into rain, force back the fugitives in cooling and refreshing showers.

In places where earthquakes prevail, mountains are converted into funnels, for the purpose of vomiting forth these volcanic eruptions of liquid fire, which, but for such vents, might have shaken kingdoms from their foundations, and swallowed up provinces in one mighty gulph.

But the most general use to which Providence seems to have applied mountains and vallies, and consequently, without doubt, the most important one for which they were designed, is the elevation of Springs, and convenient distribution of Waters, agreeably to the language of the Royal Psalmist: "They go up by the mountains, they go down by the vallies, unto the place which thou hast appointed for them." And this use alone would have afforded us abundant motives of gratitude and thankfulness, although there had been no other, that from mountains and vallies we are supplied with these inestimable blessings.

Springs and Rivers.

Water is not only one of those necessary elements of which our very means of existence are composed, but it administers to our wants and conveniences on a variety of occasions, and in many different shapes.

With water our choicest bread is mixed, and it makes part of the composition of our favourite beverage. By water the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, quench their thirst; and by means of it the lofty cedar of Lebanon derives its nutritriment, as well as the tender herb that creepeth against the wall. By this necessary and useful fluid we are assisted in many a tedious and laborious operation:-Formed into canals it helps the deepladen barge forward in its progress; confined into dams it sets the ponderous mill-wheel in motion; òr

evaporated into steam, it puts in play the massy arms of the huge engine.

But how does it come to pass that water is rendered thus serviceable? It is partly owing to the wise manner in which the great Creator distributes it from his treasures, by causing Springs to take their rise in elevated situations, and partly from the general law impressed upon fluids to regain their level, that water is impelled forward in its course, and made to surmount so many obstacles in its progress to the sea, while its suitable consistency fits it for being easily turned aside, and diverted into such other channels as the necessities of man may require.

If, as might have been expected, Springs had been confined in general to the lower situations of the earth, extensive tracts must have been left unwatered, while plains in their immediate neighbourhood would have been deprived of their fertility by inundation, or rendered pestilential by stagnant waters pent up without the means of escape. Had water been deprived of that admirable property of rising to its level, how liable would it have been to be obstructed in its progress by every insignificant hillock, or trifling rise of the ground; and, with respect to its consistency, besides being rendered incapable of being converted to so many useful purposes, had it been thinner, how would it have answered the purpose of supporting so many burdens, or keeping within its bounds; had it been thicker, how would it have been adapted for quenching thirst, or ascending the minute tubes of the vegetable tribe?

But by this wise and beneficial arrangement, Rivers being elevated at their head, in situations at a distance and remote from the sea, are necessitated to pass over a large tract of country, before they lose themselves in the main, and following the course of those numerous sunken beds made for them in the vallies, they are at once confined within their proper limits, and made to wind in many a lengthened turn, to the more copious diffusion of their benefits, than would have otherwise been the case; while their pliable nature renders them easily turned aside as they glide along, to water those fields removed at a small distance from their banks, or for other purposes to which the ingenuity of man may make them subservient.

Mineral and Medicinal Waters,

Are also amply provided by nature, and dispense their salutary virtues in a variety of situations. These are not so numerous as the other, but are sufficiently so for the purposes to which they are adapted; for all men, and every living creature, need food, but we have reason to be thankful that all need not the aid of medicine. Many there are, however, who stand in need of their beneficial influences, and many an invalid have they been the means of restoring to renovated powers, and the blessings of health. Like the pool of Bethesda, they may be said to be of a healing nature; but blessed be the adorable Physician who has opened up these

fountains, that they have been found to be for the healing of multitudes who resort thither, and not for him alone who is fortunate enough to be first plunged into the troubled stream.

Wide and extended Plains

Also cover a considerable portion of the face of our globe, and these are not without their uses. Did nothing but huge mountainous districts, intercepted by deep vallies, present themselves, what room would be left for tillage? What incredible labour and fatigue in travelling! What insurmountable barriers to the purposes of trade and commerce! But these facilitate the operations of agriculture, and cause the stubborn glebe to be broken up with ease. Carriages with immense burdens glide along on the level of a rail-way; the traveller on horseback, enveloped in darkness, pursues his journey without danger of stumbling; the loaded waggon is wheeled anwards without interruption; and the swift post flies with astonishing celerity on the wings of busi

ness.

The last thing we shall touch upon in the general appearance of the surface of the dry land is the

Verdant Colour of the Earth;

For whatever diversity of hue there may be in natural objects when viewed separately, there can be no doubt but this is the most general and prevailing