mankind, including their religion, forms of government, moral and intellectual improvement. This view of the world is sometimes called Historical geography.

You will now see that geography is not a science of memory alone, consisting of mechanical recitations of the names of places, and the situations of countries, rivers and mountains. It is necessary to learn to view things in detail, and then in general, to compare and reflect in order to become acquainted with geography. And thus you perceive, that although this science is highly useful for the information which it communicates, it also, when properly investigated, serves to develope and improve the faculties of reason and judgment, and elevate the moral character.

Besides Mathematical, Astronomical, Physical and Political geography there is another department of this science called Statistical geography, or that which gives an account of the length and breadth, population, boundaries and commerce of different countries.

The study of geography tends to give enlarged and comprehensive views respecting the earth we inhabit. While this science was unknown, and mankind in ignorance of the world on which they lived, the most dark and superstitious fears prevailed with respect to the living beings who were supposed to exist in certain unknown regions. Even the Romans, enlightened as they were for the period in which they flourished, supposed the hordes of barbarians who poured in upon them, were absolutely without limits, as to numbers, or in the extent of their country. Panic-struck by these terrors, the Romans thus became an easy prey to a people whom they thought it would be in vain to resist.

The descendants of the Romans, afterwards condemned the philosopher Galileo to perpetual imprisonment, for daring to assert that the earth was round, and moved on an imaginary axis. Spigelius, a bishop of Topsal in Sweden, was burnt at the stake, for expressing his belief in the gobular form of the earth, and that there might be people who had night when it was day in Sweden, and day when it was night there, or that were

their antipodes.* This doctrine was by the superstitious and ignorant monks declared to be 'a proposition absurd in its very nature, false in philosophy, heretical in religion, and contrary to the holy Scriptures.'

The discovery of the true figure of the earth has been of incalculable advantage to mankind. Indeed, we cannot, without pity, think of the period when the European knew nothing of the earth, but of his own comparatively little continent. All else was dark and mysterious as the regions beyond the grave.

You have read of the difficulties encountered by Columbus in obtaining the assistance necessary to prosecute a voyage, in which he believed that some great discovery awaited him. We cannot, however, appreciate the feelings which agitated him, as hope and fear for the desired and prevailed. By study and observation he had become convinced of the spherical figure of the earth, and at first only thought of finding a better way of sailing to the East Indies than by the long and dangerous passage around the Cape of Good Hope; but on further reflection, he thought a wise Creator would not have made the proportion of water so much greater than that of land, and therefore inferred the existence of another continent.

While his mind was laboring with these grand ideas, and impressed with the immense importance of ascertaining the correctness of his reasoning, he was, as is often the case with those who attempt great things, treated by many as a madman, or a fool. We may, my dear pupils, justly feel a pride in the thought, that a woman was the first to comprehend the sublime conceptions of Columbus; and providential indeed does it appear that this woman was a sovereign, able as well as willing to aid the genius which her mind appreciated. Isabella-let the daughters of Columbia ever hold thy name in reverence! let them remember that, without thy aid, their own dear country might even now have been a wilderness, shared by the savage heathen and the scarcely more savage beast of the forest!

*

Antipodes is from two Greek words, anti, opposite, and podos, feet; meaning people who live on opposite sides of the globe, and whose feet are therefore directly opposite.

Ancient Geography.

Geography is properly divided into Ancient and Modern. Acient geography commences with describing countries known in the remotest antiquity respecting which we have any information. Although writers agree in dividing both geography and history into ancient and modern, they differ as to the point of time most proper for their separation. While some fix this at the extinction of the western empire of the Romans, A. D. 476, others prefer to divide at the commencement of the New Western Empire, under Charlemagne, A. D. 800. A third period, and one which evidently seems the most proper, is the birth of our Saviour.

This is considered as having taken place 4004 years after the creation. The whole Christian world now reckon time from the birth of Christ: thus we date A. D. (Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord) 1831; that is, so many years have passed since his birth. So in public acts, officers of the government date from the independence of our country, it being at this time the fifty-seventh year of American Independence.

Should there be those eighteen hundred years hence who should dispute the fact of such an event as the revolution in which America became an independent nation, and at the same time should public acts continue to be dated from this event, would not this very circumstance substantiate the fact?

When did any people or any individual begin to date from an event which never took place? Were there no other proof of the appearance in the world of Jesus Christ, it would seem as if the fact of so great a portion of mankind reckoning from such an event might convince the most sceptical. Or, if he was nothing more than an obscure carpenter, who imposed on a few ignorant fishermen, until he was finally put to death for his blasphemies, how has it happened that his birth, after a period of more than 1800 years, is considered a more important event than the creation itself? Even the Deist, who ridicules the Christian for what he calls his credulity, dates from the birth of

Christ. Which, we would ask, is the more credulous, the sceptic who believes things can happen without cause, or he who relies on evidence the most certain ?

The study of ancient geography is not to be commenced before some aquaintance with modern. After learning in the latter the situations and boundaries of places, it is not difficult to connect with them the names by which they were anciently known: thus Caledonia easily becomes associated with the more modern name Scotland, Hibernia with Ireland, Hispania with Spain, Gaul with France, &c. Ancient geography teaches how much the boundaries and extent of countries have changed and what part of the world was known or unknown to the ancients.*

A knowledge of Ancient geography is very important to a right understanding of the sacred writings, and Ancient History. The nations mentioned in the Old Testament have long since ceased to exist. Of the Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian and Syrian empires, nothing but the names now remains. Their proud capitals, Nineveh, Babylon, Thebes, Tyre and Sidon have disappeared from the earth, and scarcely do we know the places which they once so proudly occupied.

The cities of the Canaanites, the Midianites, and Philistines, with those of their conquerors, the Jews, are all swept from existence. The boundaries of these

nations, ancient geography cannot well define; all that it can do, is to point out their supposed location. Of the people who inhabited these ancient countries, not a remnant remains, except of the Hebrews or Jews; and they wandering and dispersed over the face of the earth; though, still preserving their ancient customs and religion, prove the truth of the sacred volume, which, while it prophesied their fate as a nation, foretold that they would continue a separate people. A part of

* For further particulars respecting the proper method of pursuing this study, reference may be had to Mrs. Willard's Ancient Geography, which brings within a small compass most of the important facts of the science, and designates a philosophical mode of classifying and arranging them. Lavoisne's Ancient Atlas is very valuable for the advanced student, but is on a scale too large for schools.

the prophesy respecting them, viz. that they shall be collected and restored to their ancient city, Jerusalem, still remains to be fulfilled. The Christian world are looking for this event, as the commencement of the Millenium or that period, when the whole earth shall be covered with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.'

A knowledge of Ancient geography is of great assistance in understanding the historical parts of the New Testament. The events there recorded become more deeply impressed upon the mind when the location of the places where they occurred is understood. This science points out Bethlehem, where our Saviour was born; Nazareth, where he dwelt with his parents; the river Jordan, where he was baptized; the desert of Judea, where he fasted forty days; Cana, where he wrought his first miracle; the various countries over which he traveled; the lakes and seas which he crossed, and finally, Jerusalem, where he was crucified.

Ignorant of the situation of these places, it is impossible for a person to feel that interest in the narrative with which they are connected, that would otherwise be experienced. Suppose upon an ancient map you follow our Saviour in the various events of his life you find the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem, where, beholding that city, he wept over it; here the garden of Gethsemane, where, being in agony under the burthen of our sins, he prayed; and there another mount, that of Calvary, where, the great work of our redemption being completed, the Saviour bowed his head and said, It is finished.' Does not the tracing of these locations help you to believe and realize the great truths of Christianity?

Without being accustomed to the assistance of sensible delineations, people are in danger of reading the historical parts of the Scriptures, as they would some tale of fancy, which, floating through the imagination, leaves upon the mind no lasting impression. Not that one cannot be a Christian without a knowledge of ancient geography, or indeed if ignorant of every human science; for blessed be the name of Him who has given us the word of life, it is so simple that even the way-faring man