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slaves, drunk, to the sight of the ingenuous youth, to deter them from so shameful a vice, by so sad an example. And no doubt, nothing could strike the mind with abhorrence of such a brutal practice, like such a sight. Still, it was too great an indignity to put even upon the meanest of human slaves. Nay, it was, beyond all question, an indignity even upon a brute of a better species; and if so, how scandalous must this practice be, how shameful beyond all reproach, in men! in creatures that value themselves upon the use of reason, and the advantages of religion !-Delany.

THE SPRING-HAAS.

SPEAKING of the interior of South-Africa, Mr. Burchell says, a Hottentot brought me a spring-haas (Pedetes Caffer) which he had shot. Great complaints were made against these animals for the mischief they do the corn, eating it both green and ripe. It was of nearly the size of a hare, with long soft fur of a sandy colour, a long tail, black at the extremity, and hinder legs of twice the length of the fore pair. Its very remarkable gait is occasioned by this disproportion of legs; as it moves, at least when in haste, only by long leaps, or bounds. From this circumstance, and its resemblance in several particulars to a hare, it has obtained from the Dutch colonists a name signifying leaping hare. Its ears, however, have more resemblance to those of a cat than of a hare; but the two long front teeth in each jaw, and its leaping motion, plainly prove its close affinity to the latter. Its fore feet, which are little more than two inches in length, are provided with very long hooked claws, better adapted for holding its food, than for burrowing in the ground; and have every appearance of not being used for the latter purpose. On the contrary, the hinder legs, which are nearly ten inches long, are furnished with extraordinarily large and strong nails, which might almost be called hoofs; and which seem to be used only for scratching away the earth, for which office they are well suited; although such an application of the hind legs is a singular anomaly,

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favourable opportunity of watching their mode of life. In this manner it does, in fact, use them dexterously and expeditiously; making deep burrows, in which it lies concealed all day. As it comes out to feed only by night, it is an animal not so well known from its form and appearance, as from its operations. It inhabits the neighbourhood of mountains, whose rocky sides afford them a greater protection than the plains, where they may be easily overtaken by dogs, or other carnivorous animals. No construction can be better suited for ascending, nor any worse for descending, a steep. There must therefore, one would imagine, be some singular management on the part of an animal so formed, and at the same time inhabiting such places. It is sometimes, though less frequently, called the berg-haas (mountain hare).

NOTICES OF ANIMATED AND VEGETABLE NATURE.

FOR MARCH, 1833.

"Now March with varying face appears,

And sweeps the heavens with blustering gale;
His sunny smiles, and cloudy tears,

And frost and sleet, by turns prevail.

Thus constant Providence divine

In every change new love displays;

And all in one great end combine

The creature's good, the Maker's praise."

1ST WEEK. The ring-dove coos; the white wagtail sings; the tom-tit utters its vernal note. The willow and rosemary are in blossom; and various shrubs and trees are opening their buds.

2d Week. The jackdaw visits the churches; the gold-finch sings; and the nettle-butterfly appears. The vernal crocus is in flower; the field-daisy is now seen scattered over dry pastures; and the lovely violet gives its sweets to the morning breeze.

3d Week. The blackbird and the turkey lay, and house pigeons sit: the green-finch sings, and the viper uncoils itself from its winter sleep. The wheat-ear, or English ortolan, again pays its annual visit, leaving England in September. Those birds that have passed the winter with us now take their departure for more northerly regions, as fieldfares, redwings, and woodcocks. Daffodils, yellow auriculas, coltsfoot, and hounds-tongue, are now in blossom.

4th Week. The melody of birds now swells upon the ear: the thrush charms us with the sweetness and variety of its lays, and the

green aspect; the leaves of the lilac are peeping from beneath their winter covering; and gooseberry and currant trees display their verdant foliage and pretty blossoms.

Greenwich, Kent.

WILLIAM ROGERSON.

BRIEF ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES,

FOR MARCH, 1833.

THE SUN is the centre of the solar system, around which the planetary orbs revolve; and is the first and greatest object of astronomical knowledge. The Sun, under divine Providence, is the parent of the seasons; day and night, summer and winter, are among the surprising effects which he produces. All the vegetable creation are the offspring of his beams; our own lives are supported by his influence: nature revives, and puts on a new face when he approaches nearer to us in spring, and sinks into a temporary death at his departure from us in the winter.

"By his magnetic beam he gently warms
The universe, and to each inward part,
With gentle penetration, though unseen,
Shoots invisible virtue."

The Sun rises on the 1st at forty-eight minutes past six, and sets at thirty-eight minutes after five: on the 18th he rises at ten minutes past six, and sets at eight minutes after six. The Sun enters the equinoctial sign Aries on the 20th, at thirteen minutes past eight in the evening; at which time the spring quarter takes place.

The Moon passes the meridian on the 1st at eight minutes past eight, and on the 3d at ten minutes after ten, at night. The Moon is full on the 6th, at two minutes before five in the morning: she rises on the 7th at twenty minutes before eight, and on the 10th at half past eleven, at night. The Moon enters on her last quarter on the 13th, at three minutes before six in the morning; and rises on the 15th at about a quarter before four in the morning: she changes on the 21st, at seven minutes past eleven in the forenoon; and presents her beautiful crescent in the west on the 23d. The Moon sets on the 24th at forty minutes past nine, and on the 26th at midnight: she enters on her first quarter on the 28th, at twelve minutes before eleven at night; and passes the meridian on the 30th at three minutes before eight in the evening.

MERCURY is visible in the evenings towards the end of the month, setting about two hours after the sun.

VENUS appears with refulgent lustre every clear evening in the western skies: this beautiful planet sets on the 4th at a quarter past ten, and on the 23d at about a quarter before eleven: on the 25th she is in conjunction with the Moon.

MARS passes the meridian on the 8th at a quarter before six, and on the 18th at half-past five, in the evening: on the 27th he is in the neighbourhood of the Moon.

JUPITER is to be seen during the first half of the month, near the western horizon, after sun-set; afterwards he becomes invisible.

SATURN is in opposition to the Sun on the 15th; at which time he rises due east at sun-set, and sets due west at the time the sun rises, consequently passes the meridian at midnight: he is in conjunction with the Moon on the 6th day.

CAPELLA Souths on the 1st at half-past six, and on the 15th at half-past five. On the 7th CASTOR, PROCYON, and POLLUX, pass the meridian about half-past eight at night; and on the 23d they south an hour earlier. The bright fixed star SIRIUS, or the Dogstar, is due south on the 10th at twenty-four minutes past seven, and on the 20th at forty-five minutes after six, in the evening. Greenwich, Kent. WILLIAM ROGERSON.

JUVENILE OBITUARY.

1. DIED, at Huddersfield, Nov. 26th, 1831, William Aram. He was born July 24th, 1811. Very early in life he manifested great attachment to religious instruction, and was evidently under the influence of the fear of God. When quite a child, he has been frequently overheard, while earnestly praying that God would teach him how to pray, and what to pray for. Happily these visitations were not overlooked by his parents, whose desire it was that their son should live before God; and, what is but too unusual, though very unnecessarily so, in the present case they were continued till they issued in his spiritual regeneration. Being sent to school, away from home, for twelve months, he took with him his Bible, and John Nelson's Journal, a volume in which he took great pleasure; and when he returned, the good feelings with which he left home were evidently as powerful as ever. When somewhat more than thirteen years of age he began to meet in class; and in the spring of 1825, obtained the sense of pardoning mercy, which enabled him now to love as well as to fear God. His father had been for a short time from home; and, on his return, observing in William a considerable alteration, especially an additional cheerfulness, inquired the reason, and obtained in reply a very satisfactory account to the following effect:-" About three weeks ago," said the youth, "I was for several days in very great distress. I felt that I was a sinner and needed mercy: but, while I was praying, it seemed as if God had spoken to my mind, 'Peace be unto thee.' I felt so happy, I could scarcely contain myself." With great simplicity, he added, that soon after he felt as though he were too young to be made so happy; but this suggestion he overcame by confidently confessing the work of God. "I felt," he said, "that God had blessed me, and I would not deny it." A temptation to carelessness followed this; but as his peace was great, so likewise was he taught of God, and said at once that he had now more need than ever of prayer, more occasion. than ever for praise. The interesting conversation

his eyes, "And so, father, I keep on praying and praising God; and I hope to praise God through all eternity."

His father, with whom he continued to dwell, gives this pleasing testimony, that "from this time, to his last sickness, he was one of the most affectionate, obedient, and industrious children that a man could possibly have." In his religious character he was exceedingly correct. Youthful vanities appeared to have no power on his mind. Without being at all gloomy, (he was too happy for that,) he was, nevertheless, habitually and devoutly serious. He had put his hand to the plough, and he did not look back. To all appearance, he was steadily, and with his whole soul, pressing towards the mark for the prize of his high calling. Since his early removal it has been remarked, that had he known the day of his death to be so near as it eventually proved to be, he could scarcely have been more earnest and devoted than he was.

It was his father's wish that he should be apprenticed; but against this he remonstrated, urging as his reason, that his religious advantages would be much greater at home. He was told that in a pecuniary point of view the plan proposed to him would be superior to his own. Being thus pressed, he replied, though with evident timidity, that he thought that much money was not necessary to make a man happy; and that he had an impression on his mind that when he was older, he should be called to preach to others that Gospel which had been such a source of blessedness to himself. When, however, he had thus opened his heart to his parents, he added, "And now that I have told you my mind fully, I am ready to go apprentice to any trade to which you may think proper to put me." His father yielded to his wishes; and thenceforward William was engaged with him in his own occupation, that of a gardener.

He was very desirous of mental improvement; and not only rose very early that he might have leisure for the pursuit of knowledge, but sometimes, yielding to his own feelings, which on this subject were very ardent, rather than to the better judgment of his parents, he continued to a late hour the studies in which he was engaged. It is observable however, that this thirst after improvement was not allowed so to engross him as to affect his personal piety, or to encroach on the time which it was his duty to devote to his earthly calling. He was "not slothful in business," but was enabled, at the same time, by the grace of God to be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Nor did he neglect the opportunities of usefulness which came in his way. He became a Sunday-school teacher; he engaged in the distribution of religious tracts; and would sometimes on a summer Sabbath morning, take a handful of tracts, go down to the river side, and distribute them among the boys who were there bathing, and in other ways breaking the Sabbath. Indeed, to those

of his own age he seemed particularly attached, conversing with them when in health, visiting them in sickness, and endeavouring, by the use of all the means in his power, to awaken in them a serious concern for their souls. Timid as he was, and modest in his behaviour, so that his zeal never appeared at all forward or

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