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seen various accounts of these splendid natural fire-works of the aerial Heavens, from various parts of our country; and a recent arrival from England, announces that they were seen at sea, at the distance of 130 miles from our coast. The appearances in the morning of the 13th instant, have already occasioned much speculation, and will probably produce much more. As yet, these meteoric phenomena are not satisfactorily accounted for on philosophical principles; but of such a solution we have no reason to doubt they are capable, and we hope it will ere long be given.

Yesterday morning the heavens presented a brilliant spectacle. The meteoric phenomena, popularly called falling stars, were so frequent, that for more than an hour, it was often impossible to count those seen at the same moment. They did not differ individually from such as occur on most clear evenings, but among

the thousands exhibited at the time we

speak of, might be found some of every variety, from those resembling a faint spark, to what was scarcely inferior to a splendid skyrocket.

They generally moved in diverging lines, in a direction from the zenith towards the horizon; some in their flight crossed the path of others, and a few passed through the zenith, although they did not often appear in that point of the heavens. They were first seen by the writer, at a little before four o'clock; at five, when most abundant, the vault of heaven seemed to be covered with interrupted brilliant lines, in the directions already mentioned.

Many stars had already become dim, when this gorgeous spectacle faded before the light of approaching day.

Mrs. Hannah More. Few persons have enjoyed a higher degree of public esteem and veneration than this excellent and distinguished lady. Early in life, she attracted general notice by a brilliant display of literary talent, and was honoured with the intimate acquaintance of Johnson and Burke, of Reynolds and Garrick, and of many other highly eminent individuals, who equally appreciated her amiable qualities and her superior intellect. But under a deep conviction, that to live to the glory of God, and to the good of our fellow creatures, is the great object of human existence, and the only one which can bring peace at the last, she quitted in the prime of her days, the bright circles of fashion and literature, and, retiring into

the neighbourhood of Bristol, devoted herself to a life of active Christian benevoworks, having for their object, the relilence, and to the composition of various gious improvement of mankind. Her practical conduct beautifully exemplified the moral energy of her Christian principles. She was the delight of a widely extended sphere of friends, whom she charmed by her mental powers, edified by her example, and knit closely to her in affection, by the warmth and constancy of her friendship. She lived and walked in an atmosphere of love, and it was her delight to do good; the poor for many miles round her, felt the influence of her unceasing benevolence, and her numerous schools attested her zeal for the improvement and edification of the rising generation. In these works of faith and charity, she was aided, for a long course of years, by the concurring efforts of four sisters who lived with her, who regarded her with mingled feelings of admiration and affection, and towards whom her conduct was ever marked by the kindest and most endearing consideration. It was truly a sisterhood, animated by all the social and hosMrs. Hannah More's pitable virtues. last illness was accompanied by feverish delirium, but the blessed influence of Christian habits was strikingly exemplified, even under the decay of extreme old age, and its attendant consequences. Not seldom she broke forth into earnest prayer and devout ejaculation, and invariably met the affectionate attentions of the friends who sedulously watched over her sick bed, by unceasing and most expressive returns of grateful love. The writer of this tribute to her memory saw her only the day before her last seizure, when she expressed to him, in a most impressive manner, the sentiments of a humble and penitent believer in Jesus Christ, assuring him that she reposed her hopes of salvation on his merits alone, and expressing at the same time, a firm and joyful reliance on his unchangeable promises. In her excellent writings she will live long, not only as one of the brighest ornaments of her sex, but as the benefactress of her species.

Loss of Weight in Cooking Animal Food. It is well known that in whatever way the flesh of animals is prepared for food, a considerable diminution takes place in its weight. As it is a subject both curious and useful in domestic economy, we shall give the result of a set of experiments which were actually made in a public establishment; they were not undertaken from mere curiosity, but to serve a purpose of practical utility.

Twenty-eight pieces of beef, weighing 280 lbs. lost in boiling, 73 lbs. 14 ozs. Hence, the loss by beef in boiling was 261 lbs. in 100 lbs.

Nineteen pieces of beef weighing 190 lbs. lost in roasting, 61 lbs. 2 ozs. The weight of beef lost in roasting appears to be 32 lbs. in every 100 lbs.

Six pieces of beef, weighing 90 lbs. lost in baking, 27 lbs. Weight lost by beef in baking, 30 lbs. in each 100 lbs.

Twenty-seven legs of mutton, weighing 260 lbs. lost in boiling, and by having the shank bones taken off, 62 lbs. 4 ozs. The shank bones were estimated at 4 ozs. each; therefore the loss in boiling, 85 lbs. 8 ozs. The loss of weight in legs of mutton in boiling is 21 lbs. in each 100 lbs.

Thirty-five shoulders of mutton, weigh ing 350 lbs. lost in roasting, 108 lbs. 10 ozs. The loss of weight in shoulders of mutton by roasting, is about 31 lbs. in each 100

lbs.

Sixteen loins of mutton, weighing 144 lbs. lost in weight, 49 lbs. 14 ozs. Hence, loins of mutton lost by roasting, about 38 lbs. each 100 lbs.

Ten necks of mutton, weighing 100 lbs. lost in roasting, 32 lbs. 6 ozs.

From the foregoing statement, two practical inferences may be drawn. 1st. In respect to economy, that it is more profitable to boil meat than to roast it. 2d. Whether we roast or boil meat, it loses, being cooked, from one-fifth to one-third of its whole weight.—Philosophical Mag.

A Capital Suggestion.-The writer of a pleasant and ingenious article in the Medical Magazine, entitled Medical Chitchat, addressing himself to the editors, asks, "Does it ever strike you, how much our manufacturers or owners of steam en

gines might increase publick comfort and health, by the simple process of attaching vapour bath rooms to their waste steamflues? Every puff of this wasted steam would make a bath for a limb, and several would fill a box capable of containing some dozen persons, sitting in the fashion of vapour baths in Russia and Turkey. On board steam boats, on the Mississippi, they would be highly advantageous. The steam necessarily wasted there is enough for a perpetual bath, day and night. Whenever voyages on ocean are common in steam-ships, this will be thought of. The vapour bath which failed some time ago in Boston, was at too high a price. Thousands, especially of labourers, who get begrimmed and sooty in the week would pay six or twelve cents a week for the privilege of using this steam, now wasted, and which might be afforded at this price. Luxury might have its champooners, its heating rooms, and couches, and oil, and coffee. Labour would be better pleased with a simple soaking for six cents. I am confident it could be afforded at that price, wherever steam engines are at work. In Birmingham it would suppress intemperance, for bathing has a wonderful effect

in soothing the irritation of the stomach,
and bowels, and head, and heart, and
skin, on which grog selling thrives. We
are not too clean in the United States.

Attic Stories of Buildings.-Among the
Improvement in the Style of Lighting the
finish of our dwellings and other buildings,
many advances which are making in the
improvement made by Mr. William Woo-
we would call publick notice to a patented
ley, for admitting light into the attic sto-
ries, superseding the necessity of the dor-
mer window. This improvement consists
serted under the cornice, and adapted to
of an ornamental iron covering to be in-
The great advantages of it are, that while
the particular architecture of the building.
it adds beauty to the building, it is per-
other part of the wall-they are cheap
manent, being equally strong with any
from being made of cast iron-and can be
multiplied with safety, so as to cause the
lighted as any other.
attic story to be well and conveniently

We understand this plan is now being generally adopted: the attic is made about six feet high in the front, which constiHouses in which these frames are inserttutes it a comfortable lodging room. ed, upon the above principle, are estimated to be of a value considerably enhanced.-N. Y. Merc. Adv.

Sandwich Islands.-A gentleman recently from these islands, informs that on the 10th of January last, a charity school was dedicated at Oahu, for the benefit of the foreign residents at that island. It is handsome belfry, and a good sized bell. a neat building of coral, with a spire, a This building was erected by a subscrip$2000, and is entirely distinct from the tion of the foreign residents, at a cost of Missionary establishment at that island. It was but four months from the time the school was suggested until its dedication, so rapidly was the subscription paper filled. Mr. Johnston and wife, who we believe are attached to the Seamen's Friend Society, volunteered their services to take charge of this school, which contained in April last upwards of 40 boys and girls. delivered by John Coffin Jones, Esq. U. At the dedication, a very able address was S. Consul, in which he showed the striking difference between the island fifteen time-how much education and civilizaor twenty years since, and at the present tion had done for them, &c. A school has now been erected, industry is encouraged, and it is in expectation shortly to put up a printing press and publish a newspaper.

The magnificent aqueduct that furnishes the city of Lisbon with water, and which has recently been cut off by the army of Don Miguel, may be regarded as one of the handsomest modern structures

in Europe: from report it will not yield in grandeur to any aqueduct left us by the ancients. That portion of it situated in the valley of Alcantara, about a mile from Lisbon, is of admirable structure, consisting of thirty-five arches at least, through which the purest water traverses a deep valley formed by two mountains. The height of the middle arch from the base to the summit is 263 feet 10 inches; the breadth of the principal arch is 107 feet 8 inches; each block of stone is in general 23 feet high; the arches on each side diminish in thickness in conformity to the size of the stones which at the termination are only eight feet. They owe the execution of this magnificent monument to John V. who laid its foundation in 1713, and it was completed in 19 years afterward. The expense was covered by a tax of one real imposed upon each pound of meat sold in the capital. By the remains of some old walls which have been discovered, it is supposed that the Romans who inhabited Lusitania had endeavoured to construct an aqueduct like that of the present day.-Paris paper.

Poisonous Beads.-Those beautiful red seeds with a black spot, brought from India, which are sometimes worn as ornaments of dress, are said by the natives to be so dangerous, that the half of one of them is sufficiently poisonous to destroy a man. This account, however, seems to exceed probability; but they have a very prejudicial quality, I have no doubt, for within my own knowledge I have seen an extraordinary effect of the poison of one of these peas. A poor woman, who had some of them given to her; and who did not choose to be at the expense of having them drilled to make a necklace, put the seeds into hot water till they were sufficiently soft to be perforated with a large needle; in performing this operation, she accidentally wounded her finger, which soon swelled and became very painful; the swelling extended to the whole hand; and it was a considerable time before she recovered the use of it. The botanical name of the plant that produces this pea is Abrusul precalarius-Elements of Science of Botany, as established by Linnæus.

A fine steam ship is now building at Savannah, which is intended to ply between

that city and St. Augustine. This will be another link in the line of steam-navigation, which will probably soon be completed, between our Atlantic cities of the north and south, and which may be extended even to the Gulf of Mexico. The commencement has been made in the steam-packet between New York and Charleston, and the success of the experiment will awaken the attention of capitalists. The difficulties which are now found in steam navigation at sea will vanish before the mechanical ingenuity for which our countrymen are distinguished, and each succeeding voyage will suggest some new improvement.-Balt. Gaz.

Mr. Samuel Church has just furnished us Steam Engine in and near Pittsburgh.— with a list of the number of steam engines now in operation in this city and its immediate vicinity; the power of each engine, the number of hands employed, and the amount of coal consumed monthly. Mr. Church has, himself, been at the trouble and expense of having this statement made out-it is entirely satisfactory, so far as it

goes, but there are still many in the country, not embraced in this list. We hope to receive a list of these also, through the kindness of the manufacturers or owners.

The number of engines, embraced in Mr. Church's list, is eighty-nine-the number of hands employed, 2111-the monthly consumption of coal, 154,550 bushels.-Pittsburgh Gazette.

tress.

Floating Mattress.-A patent has been obtained by a gentleman of the city of Boston, for an India Rubber Floating MatA satisfactory experiment was made with one as a life preserver, at the navy yard, a few days since, and we understand, says the Evening Gazette, that Commodore Elliot intends to have some further experiments made; the results will be given to the publick.

Among a number of animals lately arrived at the Garden of Plants in the city of Paris, from Russia, is a very extraordinary species of ape, called Simiascoff. It is originally from Lapland, and naturally very ferocious. Its skin is of yellow hue, and variegated like the tiger; its teeth are very long and sharp, and its cry extremely piercing.

Heligious Intelligence.

FOREIGN.

While considering in what manner we should fill this department of our work, we received the Lon

don Missionary Chronicle for September last; and on inspecting it, had no hesitation in determining to insert the whole article relative to South Africa, and part of the

letter from Madras. The religious intelligence here communicated is recent, and so far as we know, has not before been given, in detail, to the religious publick of this country. What relates to Africa is to us peculiarly interesting. Coming as it does, so soon after the publication of Dr. Philips' most animating letter, and taking it in connexion with the missions from our

own country, now going out to the western coast of this great and benighted continent, and also with the missions established in the island of Madagascar, and the favourable disposition of the Pacha of Egypt towards Christian institutions and Christian missionaries, and finally, with the distribution of Bibles on the coast of the Mediterranean, and the breaking up, in a great measure, of the influence there of the piratical Barbary powers-we are ready to hail the rapid approach of the fulfilment of the prophecy, "Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."

The letter from Madras is also of great interest-showing the wonderful progress of the gospel in the populous British presidency, of which Madras is the capital. We do not wonder that the directors of the London Missionary Society should speak as they do, in the introductory article.

SOUTH AFRICA.

PHILIPPOLIS.

Seldom have the Directors received more important and cheering intelligence, from the greater number of the stations occupied by the Society, than the recent communications have contained. In the various parts of the world to which our brethren have gone forth, the Lord has vouchsafed distinct and animating tokens of his favour, and has honoured them as the means of extensive and important benefit to the people among whom they labour. The substance of the intelligence from the East and West Indies, and from the Hervey Islands, has been already communicated to the friends of the So

ciety; and we have great pleasure in furnishing, on the present occasion, tidings South Africa. The accounts from our not less impressive and animating from esteemed brother, Mr. Kolbe, will not, we feel persuaded, be perused without emotions of devout acknowledgment to the cious influences of the Holy Spirit may Most High-fervent prayer that the gracontinue to descend, and multitudes be created anew in Christ Jesus-and a deep conviction that we cannot remain guiltless of the charge of being unfaithful to persevering efforts on behalf of the inhaour trust without the most vigorous and bitants of this portion of the missionary field. The communications from Mr. Clark are peculiarly interesting, as they present delightful evidence that the poor, oppressed, despised, and plundered Bushhuman species in the order of creation, incapable of improvement, and whom nothing but powder and ball could tame, of industry and social life, but of the highare not only susceptible of the comforts er and holier blessings connected with a sense of the pardoning mercy of God, and the hopes of immortality.

men, who have been libelled as below the

Extracts of a Letter from Mr. G. A. Kolbe, Missionary, dated Philippolis, September 1st, 1832; addressed to the Foreign Secretary.

Rev. and dear Sir,

The prophet, alluding to the wonderful ed that "the desert shall blossom as the effects of the Redeemer's gospel, predictrose." This prophecy has been in some measure fulfilled at this station during the past year. Cast your eyes, Rev. and dear sir, on the reports of former years; compare them with the information contained in the accompanying journal, and you will be induced to exclaim, with the joy of a Christian," What has God wrought!" Could you behold the train of wagons every Saturday advancing towards the house of God-could you see hundreds (where before tens were only found) hastening to hear the words of life eternalwere you to observe their deep attention under the preaching of the gospel, and view the streaming, penitential tears of genuine sorrow-you would undoubtedly unite with us to praise the Lord for the wonders which he doeth among the children of men. My own heart overflows with gratitude, and I must sink deeper and deeper in the dust of self-abasement, when I reflect on what God has effected through my weak instrumentality. To him-to him alone-be all the glory! On sacramental occasions we have experienced the presence of our merciful and glorious Saviour. Then we have enjoyed a"little heaven below." The affection of

the people towards me I account more than a recompense for all my trials. Our church at present consists of thirty members, who are all (as far as can be ascertained) walking worthy of the gospel of Christ. There are also twenty-five candidates for baptism and church-fellowship. From 80 to 133 children daily attend the

school.

You have been informed, from previous reports, that some Griquas from this place, with others, had attacked the Zoola King, Mosselekaats. I feel happy in being able to state that none of our church members had any concern in this wicked transaction, and they all express their abhorrence of such deeds. Our new chapel is completed. It can hold and seat about 500 persons.

We have commenced a Temperance Society, and it promises much success.

Now, Rev. and dear sir, let me beg a continued interest in your prayers, and in the prayers of all my honoured fathers and brethren, for the increasing blessing of Almighty God upon our labours. May he pour out his Holy Spirit in all our hearts, like the refreshing rain after drought!

I remain, Rev. and Dear Sir,
Your obedient servant,

And fellow labourer in the gospel,
(Signed) G. A. KOLBE.

Extracts from the Journal of Mr. George Augustus Kolbe, from 8th October, 1831, to 3d September, 1832.

November 6th, Sunday.-260 persons attended the different services of religion to-day. Three candidates were admitted as church members. In the evening the Lord's Supper was administered to fifteen persons. We trust the Lord was with us. After the sacrament, two persons came to me, desiring to speak about their spiritual state before God. [Mr. Kolbe afterwards speaks of his weariness of body in the spiritually delightful duties of the day, and closes by remarking, in reference to the people among whom it is his privilege to labour, "It is now ten o'clock, yet we still hear prayers and hymns of praise ascending to God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless his own work!"]

November 7th, Monday.-100 persons attended the missionary prayer meeting. November 9th, Wednesday.-The chief sent a letter to the Veld Cornet Joubert, complaining of the intrusions of the farm ers, especially of the colonists, who had insulted and beaten his people.

November 20th, Sunday.-178 persons attended the services. Proclaimed a solemn fast to the Lord for the acknowledg

ment of sin, and deprecating his wrath. A prayer-meeting was held with this intent in the evening, and the following Sabbath was proposed as a day of prayer and humiliation before God.

November 24th, Thursday.-Visited the people in their houses. From this day's experience we are constrained to praise God, who is doing great things for us. A spirit of prayer is more general among the people than I could have expected. Of many who we supposed never had a serious thought about their souls, we were constrained to say, Behold, they pray!

January 14th, 1832, Saturday.—In the evening twenty-nine wagons arrived, all loaded with people who came to attend the services of religion. Mr. Jenkins, of Bootschaap, being here, addressed a crowded congregation.

January 18th, Wednesday.-Vaccinated twenty-six persons. The school increased to ninety children. Service in the evening-102 attended.

January 22d, Sunday. The number of candidates exceeding thirty, it was thought necessary to divide them into two classes, and to converse with one class on Sabbath between services, and with the other class on Thursday afternoons.

January 25th, Wednesday.-Service in the evening. 100 attended. At the conclusion of the service spake with the candidates. The Lord verily blessed us; eye did weep. every heart appeared to feel, and every

January 29th, Sunday.-This day being appointed as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God, for having mercifully delivered us from that dreadful disease, the small-pox, Mr. Jenkins preached to 400 persons. After the service many of the people prayed. I preached in the afternoon and evening.

February 5th, Sunday.-Two elders and two deacons were chosen by the unanimous votes of the members. Our church discipline is as follows:-If a member conduct himself unbecomingly, he is reprimanded; if this proceeding have no effect, two other members endeavour to convince him of his error. If their endeavours fail, the subject is brought before the missionary, elders, and deacons, and their conclusion is laid before the whole church. The votes of the members decide the questions brought forward.

February 12th, Sunday.-Prayer-meeting in the morning as usual; 250 attended. 300 attended the other services of religion. This has been a day of apparent spiritual awakening to some. The conversation with the members and candidates was edifying and encouraging. Four English ladies, and two Dutch colonists, attended the service.

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