are composed of light-coloured clay. In the narrower streets, they have a mean exterior, but within they display all the magnificence of the east. A narrow passage opens into a court, surrounded by buildings, the walls of which are painted with alternate lines of blue, white, and red. In the centre is a marble fountain, and the air is scented with flowers, or shaded with trees of curious or beautiful foliage. At one side is a recess that reaches to the roof of the building, entirely open towards the coast, and spanned by a broad arch; and round it are splendid cushions, upon which visitors are received and the members of the family assemble during the hours of recreation. The rooms are finished with great care, having paintings upon the wall, and illuminated sentences from the koran, and in some instances there is no part to be seen that is not wrought in Arabesque. The streets are nearly all protected at their entrances by strong doors. The mosque of St. John is the principal resort of the Moslem worshippers. It was built by the caliph Walid, in 717, and seven years' revenue of the whole caliphate is said to have been consumed in its erection.

The bazars are exact representations of all that we are accustomed at home to attribute to places of this description. Among the multitudes who throng them are persons in almost every possible variety of dress. The rich turbans and flowing robes of the respectable merchants are finely contrasted with the rude sheepskin covering of the mountaineer, and the dark abba of the wandering Arab. The ladies dress in plain white when they walk out in the streets, and it is only when making purchases in the bazars that their faces can be seen. The Damascus blades are no longer of superior value. The principal manufacture is silk. An immense number of persons is employed in making up dresses, as it is from this place nearly the whole of Syria is supplied. The city has given name to the damson plum, the damask rose, and the damask silk, as they were all originally brought from this place.

he came was one continued scene of desolation, with the exception of a few trees in the hollows, where the melting of the mountain snows had swollen the waters into streams. In a moment, without any token whatever of what was to follow, he came to the verge of the precipice, and beheld at his feet the pure white edifices of Syria's magnificent capital. He started back, as if struck by the sight of an angel, and exclaimed, "I will die here; I will proceed no further, lest I be unable to enjoy paradise." Tradition assures us that he kept his word, and never entered the city. From this situation the view of the city is one of the most interesting that can be conceived. The clay of the houses seems transformed into marble purity, by the illusion of the distance, and the whole appears like one congregated mass of minarets, turrets, and domes. Surrounding these, to the extent of many miles, are gardens presenting a mantle of the most gorgeous green, the uniformity of which is relieved by the dark cypress trees that rise from among them in all directions. There are few objects upon earth that come nearer to the ideal form that the mind gives to the New Jerusalem. The plain extends as far as the eye can reach, and at the time I mounted this elevation, and looked upon the enchanting sight it commands, the sky and the clouds were exhibiting those varied tints that make any prospect beautiful, and rendered this almost divine. I could just distinguish the waters of the Bahr-el Margi, in the extreme distance, by the reflection of the sun's rays from their surface, which added all that was wanting to the perfection of the scene. In the Canticles, the nose of the bride is compared to "the tower of Lebanon, that looketh toward Damascus ;" and may not this expression refer to the prospect from this place, and mean, surrounded by the beauty?

passing objects, and perhaps in attempting, in their way, some little witticisms or severe irony. An incredible quantity of fruit is annually preserved, and exported to the city of Constantinople, and other parts of the Turkish empire.

The place is still shown where Saul was arrested by the voice of Jesus, as well as the house of Ananias, the house of Judas, with whom Saul lodged, and the wall whence the apostle was let down in a basket. The rivers of Abana and Pharpar cannot now be traced.

The people of Damascus have long been celebrated for their bigoted attachment to Islamism, and for their hatred and persecution of the professors of all other religions. Their principal source of revenue has been from the pilgrims, who assembled here from all the interior provinces of Asia to form the caravan for Mecca, and remained here some months. The number has sometimes amounted to 70,000. Last year and the present, no caravan was formed, in part owing to the distracted state of the country, and the commerce of the city suffered much in consequence.

There are about 4,000 Christians in the city, who live in a quarter by themselves. By some of the early missionaries a great number of Bibles and Testaments were distributed among them: these were afterwards collected by the principal of the Roman Catholic convent, and all committed to the flames; and it is said that three whole days were employed in the infamous occupation. When an English traveller arrives at the convent, he is first asked if he be a missionary, and then if he be concerned in the distribution of Bibles, and if he answer in the affirmative, he is refused admittance. All persons connected with this good work are excommunicated. Notwithstanding the efforts of Satan thus to hinder the spread of Divine knowledge, some seeds have been sown, both among Mohammedans and eastern Christians, that it is hoped will, before many days, bring forth good fruit unto the Lord. There was a man of Tarsus who came towards this city, "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord," and a similar spirit appears yet to work among the people; but as we know that the same individual soon afterwards "preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God," we have encouragement to believe that the

AMONG the many interesting applications of electricity at the present time, that is not the least important by which the surface of polished steel is covered with variously coloured rings and devices. The art has been called metallochromy, or the colouring of a metal. The process by which this is effected is exceedingly simple, so that the experiment may be performed by any person who has a voltaic battery of any construction, consisting of six or more pairs of plates. The experiment will be readily performed by following the directions to be now given.

Having charged the battery in the usual manner, fix the wires by which the poles are connected, as if any ordinary experiment were to be made. Then take a shallow dish, sufficiently large to hold the steel plate to be acted on; and in it make a concentrated solution of sugar of lead. It may be here desirable to remark, that as this substance is of a poisonous nature, great care should be taken to prevent accidents by its means; the solution should be thrown away immediately after it has been used, and the powder should not be left within the reach of persons who might be misled by its appearance, and use it for some other substance. The solution should be made in distilled or rain water, if possible, or it will probably be turbid, on account of a chemical action between it and some substance contained in the spring water. Should this be the case, filter the solution through blotting paper. In the vessel containing the concentrated solution of sugar of lead, place the steel plate, and bring into connexion with the lower surface the wire from the negative pole of the battery. Then bring the point of the positive wire into the solution immediately over the centre of the steel plate and a short distance above it, and in a few seconds a beautiful coloured ring will be observed, which, upon continuing the point in the same place, will increase in size and vary in colour, and a second, third,

fourth, and fifth ring will be formed within it, each presenting a most beautiful appearance, and forming together a resplendent coloured surface.

As there is some difficulty in keeping the point quite steady, it will be found convenient to attach a copper disc to the positive wire, and by bringing that over the steel plate instead of the point, the entire surface will be coloured at once and in a period of a few seconds. According to the concavity or convexity of the disc will be the colour produced. By a very simple contrivance, the design may be regulated to the wish of the experimenter. Take a piece of card, cut out of the shape required, and place it over the steel plate, and upon this bring the copper disc, and the colour will be confined to the open spaces.

This simple and beautiful art will probably be extensively employed at no very distant period in the decoration of many metallic articles, especially those which are intended for ornament as well as use. The variety of patterns which can be produced are almost endless; the operation is rapid and almost incapable of error, and the cost is extremely small.

As to the origin of the coloured rings, a few remarks will be sufficient. They are supposed to result from the formation of a thin film of lead upon the steel plate. Without attempting to give any optical theory for the production of the rings, a few familiar instances of the same effect may be mentioned.

The beautiful colours of the soap bubble, glittering in the rays of the sun, are well known, and afford a pleasing example of the production of colours by thin plates, for such the film of which it is formed may be considered.

If, after breathing on a plate of glass, the moisture be removed by moving the finger over it, and the plate be again breathed on, a series of vivid colours, gliding over each other with great rapidity, and exceedingly evanescent, will be observed. If, after the disappearance of the colours, the experimenter again breathe on the plate, the colours will re-appear, and be much more vivid and beautiful than at first. These experiments are best made in cold and frosty weather, and the same result must have been often observed on the windows of a stage coach or

other carriage after they have been closed for a sufficient period to admit of the vapour of the breath being diffused over the glass.

Thin films are frequently formed upon the surface of liquids when stagnant, which present similar coloured appearances. This must have been frequently observed upon pools and ponds of water. Drops of oil or spirit upon water also give similar coloured rings. But this effect will be best obtained by the following experiment. Pour into a saucer a little aqua fortis, and drop upon it some of the varnish used by engravers in the process of etching, and after thoroughly agitating the two fluids, as in an attempt to mix them, a film will appear on the surface, giving a brilliant appearance of colour.

These are instances of the production of colour by the decomposition of light with thin plates, and to the same class of phenomena the electric experiment already described must belong.

H.

HINTS TO WRITERS IN PERIODICALS.

MUCH time, words, ink, and paper are wasted on introductions. Periodical writers should be brief and crisp, dashing into the subject at the first sentence. Sink rhetoric. Nobody cares how you came to think of your subject, or why you wrote upon it: of course the exordium is unnecessary. Commence with your leading thought, and avoid irrelevant digressions. You may be less scholastic, but you will be more original, and ten times more amusing. Take it for granted, that your article at the first is four-fifths too long. Cutting down requires resolution; but you gain experience as well as improve your article, by every excision. For the mode of doing it, begin by crossing out all explanatory sentences. Leave nothing but simple propositions. Young writers always explain a thing to death. Never commence an article till you know what it is to be about. Some writers have an incontinence of words, and will dilute you an idea to twenty pages.-American Journal.

THE ROCK OF AGES.

WE must never lay that weight on an arm of flesh which the Rock of Ages only can bear.-Henry.

THE SCRIPTURES IN PAST TIMES.

Ar a time in which the Scriptures are far more easily accessible than they ever were before, it is desirable to recur to periods in which the circumstances of the people of this country were very different. To go no further back than the reign of Henry VIII., it will be found that when, by the strenuous exertions of Cranmer, the translation of the Scriptures, which had been long preparing, was completed, comparatively few copies only were dispersed; and after being for some time circulated freely, the influence of Papists prevailed, then it was directed, by royal proclamation, that none but gentlemen and merchants should presume to read the sacred volume; that it should be perused "quietly and with good order," and that there should be no disputation about its sense.

Under the auspices of his youthful successor, Edward vI., a better state of things appeared. All obstructions to the free circulation of the Scriptures were now removed, and all persons were invited and exhorted to examine the lively oracles of God for themselves. Copies of them were placed in the churches, and hither the people were accustomed to repair to peruse them. A serious change, however, took place on the death of the pious monarch, in the morning of life, and formidable obstacles arose to the progress DECEMBER, 1841.

of the Reformation he was desirous to promote.

It is well for us, that the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places; let us remember however, that our responsibilities are proportioned to our advantages. Let us be concerned, not only to read, but to "mark, learn, and inwardly digest" the truths contained in the inspired volume. In every examination of it let us seek the aid of the Spirit of truth, that we may be made wise unto eternal salvation, by faith which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. iii. 15. Happy, indeed, are they to whom the Bible is thus blessed; but unspeakably fearful is the condition of those who reject its truths, and thus "trample under foot the Son of God."

SKETCHES OF THE LINNEAN SYSTEM OF BOTANY.-No. XII. TWENTY-THIRD CLASS. POLYGAMIA. IF in the bleak season of December the woods are not adorned with foliage, nor the mead with flowers, there is no want of compensation to the eye of the Christian naturalist, for the loss that nature has sustained. Thousands of sprays, before hidden by their leafy coverings, are now made visible, presenting to the view the goodly frame-work of the forest trees, the mossy branches, and the feathery sprays; and myriads of falling snow

2 M

flakes, and hoar frost spangles, and floating rime entrance the eye of the gazer. The face of nature is changed, but if less beautiful, scarcely is it less interesting. In the twenty-third class are arranged such plants as have both stamens and pistils, and also only one of these, both on the same plant, and on separate plants of the same species, as the term Polygamia, many nuptials," is intended to imply. There are only two orders analogous to the twenty-first and twentysecond classes. 1. Monacia, the hermaphrodite, or stamen-bearing and pistil-bearing flowers are united, accompanied by one stamen-bearing, or only pistil-bearing flowers, or both, all on one plant. 2. Diœcia.

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White hellebore (Veratrum album, or Helleborus albus) belongs to this order, and is a perennial native of Europe, blowing in this country about the month of July, with pale greenish flowers, in long spikes. There is no calyx, the corolla has six petals, three of which, in the flower bud, enclose the other three; there are six stamens and three pistils, and the capsule is three sided. The root is spindle shaped and fleshy, with strong fibres, and is employed, medicinally, for preparing a new alkaloid, called veratria, of great power, when skilfully prescribed in gout and rheumatism, but a most dangerous and virulent poison in over doses. The power of the root, corruptly termed allebore among the illiterate, is very often used to mix with snuff, being a violent errhine, or provocative of sneezing. It is indeed no uncommon trick to put a considerable quantity of this powder in snuff, which sometimes produces a very dangerous fit of sneezing. It forms the chief ingredient, along with sulphate of mercury, in all the eye snuffs as they are called. Black hellebore (H. niger) is the Christmas rose of the gardens; it being termed black from the colour of the root; the flowers being of a fine rose red, and the leaves a beautiful shining green. The hellebore of the ancients (H. officinalis) is a different species, a native of Greece and the Levant. All the species contain the very powerful substance veratria.

The gum arabic tree, or Egyptian thorn (Acacia vera) belongs also to this order, and is a native of many parts of Africa, flowering in our greenhouses and windows in July. The flowers, which are of a fine yellow colour, grow in globular heads, or roundish spikes. The

calyx is small and bell-shaped; the corolla is five parted; and the fruit, or seed, is inclosed in a pod three or four inches long, The gum arabic of commerce, now called acacia by the London College, is a natural exudation from the bark which is collected in December. It is wholesome and nutritious, and instances are recorded where the use of it has preserved travellers from dying of hunger,

The sensitive plant (A. sensitiva, formerly Mimosa sensitiva) is of the same genus, and is frequently cultivated in our greenhouses as a curiosity. It is annual and herbaceous, and the singular mechanism of the base of the leaf stalk, causes the leaves to drop without falling off, whenever they are touched. After a time, if left unmolested, they recover their original position. The mechanism on which this depends has been minutely investigated by M. Dutrochet and others, though, after all, it is not yet well understood.

As shrinks the tender timid plant
From touch of earthly things;
E'en like the flame-caught moth that falls
With powerless trembling wings;
So let me shrink, through all my days,
From evil thoughts, and words, and ways.

Another important plant of this genus is the catechu tree, (A. catechu,) which is a native of India, and flowers in our greenhouses in June. It bears both hermaphrodite and stamen-bearing flowers on the same tree. The calyx in both is tubular, hairy, and five toothed; the corolla in both is five cleft, or with five petals, and numerously crowded stamens. The fruit is a thin smooth brown pod, containing six or eight seeds. An extract from the interior wood is used as a valuable astringent drug in medicine, prescribed in laxity of the bowels.

The second order has hermaphrodite and stamen-bearing flowers on separate plants, as the term Diacia is intended to imply, as in the ash and fig tree.

The ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is a forest tree which grows indigenously in our woods, forests, and hedge rows, producing wood valuable for its toughness and durability, and therefore employed extensively in making handles for mechanical implements and tools; the longer pieces of carts, coaches, and ploughs, and similar articles. The flowers come out before the leaves; but as White, of Selburne, correctly remarked, many ash trees do not produce flowers, and are