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the mariner is sure when he arrives at a certain latitude to meet his faithful friend.

What, then, becomes of these winds? it may be asked. All winds, in general, travel from the poles to the equator, but these always go in a slanting direction; it is supposed the rotatory motion of the earth, the intense heat of the sun in the tropics, and electricity combined, effect this purpose of the Almighty. Well, these winds meet this equatorial cloud, this eternal vapour, with a rush, and strange to say, they ascend up into the heavens, and this south-east trade wind becomes a south-west wind, supplying the north upon the same principle as the under current of the ocean,-one wind blowing one way and another blowing the other. These trade winds extend about two miles high.

This marvellous arrangement cannot be without a design. These winds are not sent merely to convey the mariner over the ocean, or for the cooling of one part of the earth, and the warming of another, they have still more remarkable functions to perform; they are the rain carriers, taking it up at one place, and setting it down at another. The south-east trade wind passes over the Patagonian plains, and supplies the whole of North America with rain. It then becomes a south-west wind, and brings to us softer and milder winters.

Now in conclusion, allow me to point out the bearing of all this on practical navigation. If the philosopher can now sit in his closet and calculate where the currents are in every part of the ocean, he holds a key which will greatly facilitate the transit of vessels from one part of the globe to another. In former times our ships in passing from England to America, went blundering on against wind and current, and accidents were frequently occasioned by their shooting across the Gulf Stream and becoming stranded upon the American coast without knowing where they were. But now they

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steer to Newfoundland, and take the Gulf Stream in its weakest part, and accomplish the voyage in less than half the time they used to do. A short time ago an American steamer was overtaken in a violent storm in the Atlantic; she was seen in a very disabled condition by another vessel which could not render her any assistance, but which sailed to New York, and reported to the harbour master the longitude and latitude where they last saw her. Maury set to work, made his calculations, sent out two ships with full directions, and they found the steamer within ten miles of where he said they would.

A sailing match took place in 1854 with four clipper ships from New York to California, a voyage of 15,000 miles; they never saw land from the time they left New York till they dropped anchor in Francisco Bay. What a triumph of science is this, that a little band of men shall travel 15,000 miles, seeing nothing but the ocean and the sky above their heads, with the sun and moon and stars! But how much greater a triumph is it, when by following the directions given to them on a chart by Maury, they made this voyage in about 92 days; one of them made it in 92 days, the second in 93 days,imagine this, only a day and a-half difference! The owing to a mishap he met with, was ten days longer. While the fourth, who departed from his directions got into the Doldrums, or calms (a very appropriate word by the way), and was 25 days behind.

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Is not this a great benefit to us who have friends abroad, and who is there among us who has not a brother or some old schoolfellow in India, or some other foreign land? Is it not a benefit to get a letter every month instead of every six months? I, who have four sons abroad, feel that it is such indeed. Are they not borne to us on the wings of the wind? These investigations to my mind have been most charming; and I am sure, so far from

making atheists and irreligionists, are drawing back the minds of the people to the greatness and love of that God who on the one hand points to the works of His creation, and on the other to the word of His revelation. May we read them both in meekness

and love!

GLACIERS.

BY EDWARD HULL, ESQ.,

OP THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

[Abstract of a Lecture delivered in the Public Hall, Wigan.]

MR. HULL said his subject was-"Glaciers, and their effects in ancient and modern times;" and having asked his hearers to accompany him to the mountainous district of Switzerland, he described the celebrated "Mer de Glace," one of the most remarkable glaciers in the world. The lecturer alluded to the theories that had been propagated with regard to the motion of these vast fields or rivers of ice, stating that the general one received was that the glaciers were the outlets of the great quantities of snow and ice which fell in the higher latitudes. From indications found in different parts of the world, geologists had come to the conclusion, that at a former period of the world's existence, the present valleys and flat portions of the globe, were entirely submerged, nothing but the tops of the mountains being visible. Upon this, he remarked that the physical condition of sea and land were such as prevailed at the latest geological period, immediately preceding the creation of man. We can well imagine how unsuitable to his consitution,

and unfavourable to his moral advancement, would have been the state of the earth's surface, had he lived in a period of such general desolation. Over the greater portion of the world, his sphere of action would have been confined to scattered groups of islands, a sort of terrestrial Polynesia, whose precipitous flanks presented little but naked rock, or a dreary waste of snow combined with ice. Instead of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean serving, as it does now, as a highway for commerce and civilisation -the unhappy human being would have gazed over an expanse of ocean, whose only ships were those of ice, freighted with large blocks of rock, and whose chilling influences were being carried into more southerly latitudes. Nor did this state of things exist alone in the northern hemisphere. There is evidence to show that in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere a similar lowering of the temperature and a like subsidence of the land prevailed -for glacial deposits are spread over the plains of Patagonia. Animals, such as the fossil elephant and rhinoceros, were furnished with woolly coats as an additional protection; and the few plants which survived, were those now living in the Arctic regions, and on our mountain tops. The earth was not yet fitted for the abode of intelligent creatures, but in due course a change took place. The frost-bound regions were emancipated, the low lands of Britain, Europe, and America, gradually rose from the deep. The perennial snows melted away, except from the tops of the highest mountain ranges, and a period commenced, marked by the migration of the Irish elk, during which, the configuration of land and sea, with their accompanying conditions of climate, appear to have been introduced. The history of man appears to have begun where that of the Irish elk finishes; but that is all geology tells us on a point 80 unspeakably interesting. Where science fails us, the narrative of Scripture comes to our assistance;

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making atheists and irreligionists, are draw the minds of the people to the greatness an that Gon who on the one hand points to th of His creation, and on the other to the wo revelation. May we read them both in and love?

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