labours, and his political turmoils, he could have found little leisure for the endearments of private life, but there is no intimation on record that he was negligent of its duties. During his last years his health failed him, and he was much afflicted with the stone and asthma. The following letter to a friend, dictated by him the day before he died, discovers what was the state of his mind in the prospect of that solemn hour.

"Although I am not able to write one word myself, yet I am very desirous to speak one word more to you in this world, and do it by the hand of my wife. The continuance of your entire kindness, knowing what it is accompanied with, is not only greatly valued by me, but will be a refreshment to me, as it is even in my dying, hour. I am going to Him whom my soul has loved, or rather who has loved me with an everlasting love, which is the whole ground of all my consolation. The passage is very irksome and wearisome, through strong pains of various sorts, which are all issued in an intermitting fever. All things were provided to carry me to London to-day, according to the advice of my physicians; but we are all disappointed by my utter disability to undertake the journey. I am leaving the ship of the church in a storm; but while the great Pilot is in it, the loss of a poor under-rower will be inconsiderable. Live, and pray, and hope, and wait patiently, and do not despond; the promise stands invincible, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. I am greatly afflicted at the distempers of your dear lady: the good Lord stand by her, and support and deliver her. My affectionate respects to her, and the rest of your relations, who are so dear to me in the Lord. Remember your dying friend with all fervency; I rest upon it that you do so, and am yours entirely." P. 447.

On the morning of the day on which he died, August 24, 1683, in reply to a friend, who called to tell him that he had just put to press the "Meditations on the Glory of Christ," which Owen had entrusted to his care, he said, "I am glad to hear it; but, oh, brother Payne! the long wished-for day is come at last, in which I shall see that glory in another manner than I

have ever done, or was capable of doing in this world."

Such was the conclusion of the mortal careèr of this eminent man. He died in his sixty-seventh year, and was buried in a vault in Bunhill Fields, where his epitaph is still in perfect preservation.

We have exceeded our bounds, but will not lay down our pen without giving from our author a few particulars respecting Dr. Owen's personal appearance and deportment.

"Dr. Owen was tall in stature, and toward the latter part of his life inclined to stoop. He had a grave majestic countenance; but the expression was sweet rather than austere. His appearance and deportment were those of a gentleman." p. 455.

"There was little of pride or overbearing in his manner. The tendency of his talents and honours to elate him, was counteracted by the deep insight which he had into the character of God, and the interior of human nature."

"He was very affable and courteous, familiar and sociable; the meanest persons found easy access to his conversation and friendship. He was facetious and pleasant in his common discourse, jesting with his acquaintances, but with sobriety and measure ;-a great master of his passions, especially that of anger." p. 458.

"His talents, as a public speaker, were of the first order. His voice was strong, but not noisy; sweet, but exceedingly manly, with a certain sound of authority in it. His gesture was far removed from theatrical affectation, but always animated, and adapted to his subject. His personal appearance aided most powerfully the advantages of his voice, and all were supported by a presence of mind which seldom forsook him even in the most trying circumstances." pp. 463, 464. And thus, as honest Walton would "draw the curtain" upon say, we a man, whom, whatever his faults, posterity must continue to revere. What has struck us as particularly observable in his history, is that greatness of character which made him master of himself, and enabled him to live, as it were, in his own uninvaded world, in the midst of scenes which would have utterly absorbed and distracted all the pow

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE,

&c. &c.

trades, has been lately established in London, under the guidance of Dr. Birkbeck, the founder of the first institution of the kind at Glasgow. Similar plans are in progress at Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, and Birmingham. The plan of these institutions will include lectures on the arts and sciences, a library of reference and circulation, a reading-room, a museum of models, a school of design, and an experimental workshop and laboratory. We most heartily wish well to such institutions, which are well calculated not only to increase the knowledge, but to improve the habits, and to better the condition, of our mechanics; and also to cut off many sources of vice and temptation to which they have hitherto been exposed. The ultimate benefit also of such institutions to the country at large will be great, if due care be taken to prevent their degenerating from their original intention.

disposition, which has been designated by the name of polarization, and which keeps up a singular but constant relation with the situation of the elements of crystals." "A practical illustration of some of the properties of light appears in the establishment of dioptric light-houses. In these, the light is not reflected, but transmitted through glass lenses, which render the rays parallel. The flame is placed in the centre of eight similar lenses, and the whole turns on an axis, so that all the points of the horizon are illuminated. To render the flame uncommonly ardent, Messrs. Arago and Fresnel have invented a lamp with concentric fires, the light of which is equivalent to that of 150 wax candles. From late trials, it appears that even in dusky weather these lights may be seen at the distance of more than eight leagues. Such is their lustre, that even before the close of day they may serve as signals in geodesic operations, and have been employed as such by Messrs. Arago and Mathieu, and by Messrs. Kater and Colby of the Royal Society of London. A telescope will discover these signals at more than sixteen leagues' distance, an hour before sunset; and, an hour after sunset, the naked eye will distinguish them at the same distance."

"From some recent experiments of M. Seeback, of the Academy of Berlin, we learn that the contact of different metals, and the inequality of temperatures, will be sufficient to produce very sensible magnetic effects."

"The French academicians, in 1738, made some experiments for measuring the velocity of sound; the Board of Longitude renewed them, in the month of June last, with all possible precision. It has been found that the velocity of sound, in the air, at the temperature of 55 deg. Fahrenheit, differs very little from 1044 feet per second."

"In the year 1822, four comets appeared; the first of which was discovered by M. Gambard, at Marseilles, and two others by M. Pons. For one of these, there have been only two observations, so

that the elements of its orbit have hot been calculated. These elements have been ascertained for the other two comets. They differ considerably from those that appertain to preceding comets; hence we may judge that they are stars different from all those that have been hitherto observed."

"Our marine observations on the configuration of the lands, the position of rocks and shoals, new methods of sounding, &c. are progressively augmenting every year. Our vessels have been employed in scientifically examining all the shores of the Mediterranean, of the Black Sea, the Western Coasts of Africa, those of Brazil, &c. The results of their discoveries are published, at a vast expense, by the French government, that all maritime nations may profit by the knowledge so imparted."/

"Two enlightened governments have announced their intention to concur in the publication of the great Logarithmic Tables of M. de Prony, from which spherical geometry will derive immense advantages."

"Grand geodesic operations are now carrying on in France. Researches of this description are highly interesting to the mathematical sciences, as they conduce to the correct ascertaining of the figure of the globe. In India, Colonel Lambton is proceeding, annually, in his geodesic operations. By comparing the measurements made in India and in Europe, the excess of the equatorial diameter above that of the axis that passes through the poles, is computed to be equal to the three hundred and tenth part of the polar axis. A sort of cordon of geodesic operations has been formed between those in France, England, the Low Countries, Hanover, Denmark, Bavaria, Switzerland, and Upper Italy. mense network, or connexion gles, has been hereby established, and one and the same science has extended its peaceable empire over the greatest part of Europe."

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

Eighteen additional Sermons on Doctrine and Practice; by the Author of the former Volume. 12mo. 5s.

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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

FROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY IN

THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. THE following are interesting extracts from a letter, dated March 10, 1823, from Mr. Ellis, the missionary in the Sandwich Islands. "We approached these shores, destined to be the scene of our future exertions in the great Redeemer's cause, with feelings of peculiar interest and delight. On landing, we were kindly received by our dear brethren and sisters, the American missionaries, who have hospitably entertained us beneath their friendly roof, till provided with a house to go into. The king and chiefs also greeted our arrival with pleasure, and seemed to have been waiting for our return, according to our promise made on a former visit in company with the deputation. I was happy to find the good work had gone on more encouragingly since our departure. The king and principal chiefs of all the islands we found very favourably disposed towards the religion of Jesus Christ, and diligent in the use of the means of instruction; several of them having made a very re