warmth at night, frequently meet with fatal accidents of this kind: it has happened that when a party have been dancing on the floor, the crust has given way, and the convivial assembly have been suddenly swallowed up in the boiling caldron beneath. Some of the ponds are ninety feet in circumference, filled with transparent pale blue boiling water, sending up columns of steam. Channels of boiling water run along the ground in every direction, and the surface of this calcareous flat around the margin of the boiling ponds is covered with beautiful incrustations of lime and alum, in some parts forming flat, saucer-like figures. Husks of maize, moss, and branches of vegetable substances, were crusted in the same manner. I also observed small deep holes or wells here and there amongst the grass and rushes, from two inches to as many feet in diameter, filled with boiling mud, that rises up in large bubbles, as thick as hasty-pudding: these mud-pits send up a strong sulphurous smell. Although the ponds boiled violently, I noticed small flies walking swiftly, or rather running, on their surface. The steam that rises from these boiling springs is visible at a distance of

many miles, appearing like the jets from a number of steam-engines.-Angus's Life and Scenes in Australia and New-Zealand.

A HOUSEHOLD ROBIN.

Ar a gentleman's house at Darley-Dale, a robin has domiciled for three successive winters, having had ingress and egress during the day, with the privilege of free access to a well-stocked larder, partaking at will of each dainty there. Its roosting-place is usually the kitchen, on a Christmas bough, which is still retained for its dormitory: it enters for the night at dusk of evening, having during the day occasionally sung for hours together to the domestics, as if to reward them for cherishing it thus bountifully. Each year it builds its nest in the trunk of a tree near the house, and feeds its young from the larder. Being so familiar with the household, it will fly undauntedly from room to room, and occasionally on the family breakfast-table, sometimes perching and chirping as if to ingratiate itself with its hospitable entertainers. Derby Reporter.

HANDEL.

DR. MORELL, who furnished Handel with many of his oratorios, related to Mr. Taylor, that, one fine summer morning, he (Dr. Morell) was aroused out of bed at five o'clock by Handel, who came in his carriage a short distance from London, The Doctor went to the window and spoke to Handel, who would not leave his carriage. Handel was at that time composing an oratorio.

When the Doctor asked him what he wanted, he said, "What is de meaning of de vord billow?" which was in the oratorio the Doctor had written for him. The Doctor, after laughing at so ludicrous a reason for disturbing him, told him that billow meant a wave-a wave of the sea. de vave!" said Handel, and bade his coachman return without addressing another word to the Doctor.

"O,

TABLE ON WHICH LORD NELSON DREW HIS PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR.

WHILE Lord Hill was at the Duke of Somerset's villa, near Richmond, he determined one morning to call on Lord Sidmouth, whose last days were spent at Richmond Park. When he arrived, the servant said Lord Sidmouth did not see company;

but on Lord Hill's desiring that his name should be sent in, the venerable statesman gave immediate directions for his admittance. The meeting was most cordial. Lord Sidmouth fully appreciated the compliment paid him; and Lord Hill was delighted to find that his aged friend bore the weight of more than eighty years with a mind and memory unimpaired. They soon commenced an animated conversation on times long past, and on the prospects of the country. Lord Sidmouth told his anecdotes in his own happy manner. He sat near a small table; and on allusion being made to the war, he said, "Lord Nelson was with me at this table in September, 1805, before he went out to meet the combined fleets of France and Spain, which he expected he should soon fall in with. He drew out his plan upon it, and his words were, I shall attack in two lines, led by myself and Collingwood; and I am confident I shall capture either their van and centre, or centre and rear.' Such were his very words,wonderfully confirmed, as we all know." These two upright men never met again.-Life of Lord Hill.

A BOLD PREACHER. THE boldness of Samuel Davies (a qualification so important that even Paul requested

the Christians to pray that it might be given him) will be illustrated by a single anecdote. When President of Princetown College, he visited England for the purpose of obtaining donations for the institution. The King (George II.) had the curiosity to hear a Preacher from "the wilds of America." He accordingly attended, and was so much struck with his commanding eloquence, that he expressed his astonishment loud enough to be heard half-way over the house, in such terms as these,-"He is a wonderful man!" "Why, he beats my Bishop!" &c. Davies, observing that the King was attracting more attention than himself, paused, and looking His Majesty full in the face, gave him, in an emphatic tone, the following beautiful rebuke:-"When the lion roareth, let the beasts of the forest tremble; and when the Lord speaketh, let the Kings of the earth keep silence." The King instantly shrunk back in his seat, like a school-boy that had been rapped over the head by his master, and remained quiet during the remainder of the sermon. The next day the Monarch sent for him, and gave him fifty guineas for the institution over which he presided, observing at the same time to his courtiers, "He is an honest man-an honest man."American Paper.

LORD STOWELL'S LOVE OF

SIGHT-SEEING.

WHATEVER show could be visited for a shilling, or less, was visited by Lord Stowell. In the western end of London there was a room generally let for exhibitions. At the entrance, as it is said, Lord Stowell presented himself, eager to see "the green monster-serpent," which had lately issued cards of invitation to the public. As he was pulling out his purse to pay for his admission, a sharp, but honest north-country lad, whose business it was to take the money, recognised him as an old customer, and knowing his name, thus addressed him:-"We can't take your shilling, my Lord; 'tis the old serpent which you have seen twice before in other colours; but ye shall go in and see her." He entered, saved his money, and enjoyed his third visit to the painted beauty. This love of "seeing sights" was on another occasion productive of a whimsical incident. A few years ago, an animal called a bonassus was exhibited somewhere in the Strand. On Lord Stowell's paying it a second visit, the keeper very courteously told his Lordship that he was welcome to come, gratuitously, as often as he pleased. Within a day or two after this, however, there appeared, under the bills of the exhibition, in conspicuous characters, "Under the patronage of the Right Hon. Lord Stowell:" an announcement of which the noble and learned Lord's friends availed themselves, by passing many a joke upon him; all which he bore with the

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greatest good humour.-Lives of Eminent Judges.

LORD ST. VINCENT.

LORD ST. VINCENT, during his anxious command, passed many sleepless hours in the night, and generally arose between two and three o'clock in the morning; his usual hour of retiring at that time being eight o'clock, P.M. One night, feeling very restless, he rang his bell, and ordered the officer of the watch to his bed-side. The officer was Lieutenant Cashman, a fine rough unlettered seaman, of the true breed. "What sort of a night, Sir?" "A very fine night, my Lord." "Nothing stirring? no strangers in sight?" "No, my Lord." "Then you may take a book, and read to me. Any book, it don't signify: take the Admiralty Statutes." Cashman handed out the huge quarto; and having placed the lantern, with which he was furnished to visit the ship, on the table before him, sat down in his watch-coat, and read a part of those Acts of Parliament out of which our naval code is formed; Acts which, I will venture to say, he never heard of before, and, I am sure, never looked at again. Lord St. Vincent, in telling the story, used to say, "Sir, I thought I should have suffocated myself; I was forced to keep my head so long under the bed-clothes to conceal my laughter at the manner in which he stumbled and hobbled through his task." And well he might, with a horn lantern and a farthing candle.-Captain Brenton's Life of Lord St. Vincent.

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF A

SOLDIER.

WE heard at a distance a feeble voice appealing to us for succour. Touched by his plaintive cries, some soldiers approached the spot, and to their astonishment saw a French soldier stretched on the ground with both his legs broken. "I was wounded," said he,

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on the day of the great battle. I fainted from the agony which I endured; and, on recovering my senses, I found myself in a desolate place, where no one could hear my cries, or afford me relief. For two months I daily dragged myself to the brink of a rivulet, where I fed on the grass and roots, and some morsels of bread which I found among the dead bodies. At night I lay

down under the shelter of some dead horses. To-day, seeing you at a distance, I summoned my strength, and happily crawled sufficiently near your route to make myself heard." While the surrounding soldiers were expressing their surprise, the General, who was informed of an occurrence so singular and so touching, placed the unfortunate wretch in his own carriage.-History of the Invasion of Russia by Napoleon.

ments, which are the result of long experience. One obvious bond of union to the main body, when travelling by night and through extensive deserts, is the music of the Arab servants, who by alternate songs in their national manner, beguile the tediousness of the way; while the incessant jingling of innumerable bells, fastened to the necks of the camels, a characteristic feature of Oriental caravans, enlivens the patient beasts,frightens the animals of prey, and keeps the party together. To meet all the exigencies of the journey, however, which would be a task impracticable without the establishment of some kind of order, and a prudent division of labour, the caravan is placed under the charge of a caravan Bashè; the Chief who presides over all, and under whom there are five leading officers appointed to different departments : one who regulates the march; a second, whose duties only commence at halting-time; a third, who superintends the servants and cattle; a fourth, who takes charge of the luggage; a fifth, who acts as pay-master, &c.: and, besides these, there are the officers of the military escort that always accompanies it.

One

functionary of the highest importance remains to be noticed the hybeer, or guide; a word derived by Bruce from the Arabic verb hubbar, "to inform or direct," and whose services are indispensable in crossing the great deserts, such as that along the coasts of the Red Sea, or on the western extremities of Africa. He is commonly a person of influence, belonging to some powerful tribe, whose valuable assistance on an emergency may, by his means, be obtained; and, besides the indispensable qualities of truth and fidelity, his personal qualifications must embrace an extensive and accurate acquaintance with the whole features of the land. For, as he has the lives and properties of all in his power, it is absolutely necessary that he understand the prognostics of the weather, the time and places where the terrible simoom or hot-wind blows, and the tract occupied by shifting sands, and that he know the exact locality and qualities of the wells, the oäses that afford the refreshments of shade for the men, and grass for the cattle; the situation of hostile or treacherous tribes, and the means of escaping those threatened dangers.

This description of the general economy of caravans we follow up by the account given by Pitts of the Hadj caravan which he accompanied to Mecca, and embracing so many minute details, that it may be both interesting and instructive to the reader to be furnished with it in the traveller's own words: "The first day," says he, "we set out from

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Mecca, it was without any order at all,-all hurly-burly; but the next day every one laboured to get forward; and in order to do it, there was many times much quarrelling and fighting. But after every one had taken his place in the caravan, they orderly and peaceably kept the same place till they came to Grand Cairo. They travelled four camels abreast, which are all tied one after another as in teams. The whole body is divided into several cottors, or companies, each of which has its name, and consists, it may be, of several thousand camels; and they move one cottor after another, like distinct troops. At the head of each cottor is some great gentleman or officer, who is carried in a thing like a litter, borne by two camels, one before and the other behind. At the head of every Cottor there goes likewise a sumpter-camel, which carries his treasure, &c. This camel has two bells, hanging one on each side, the sound of which may be heard a great way off. Others of the camels have bells round about their necks, like those which our carriers put about their fore-horses' necks; which, together with the servants who belong to the camels, and travel on foot, singing all night, makes a pleasant noise, and the journey passes away delightfully. Thus they travel in good order every day till they come to Grand Cairo ; and were it not for this order, you may guess what confusion would be among such a vast multitude. They have lights by night, (which is the chief time for travelling, because of the exceeding heat of the sun), which are carried on the top of high poles, to direct the hadjis, or pilgrims, on their march. These are somewhat like iron stoves, into which they put short dry wood, which some of the camels are loaded with. It is carried in great sacks, which have a hole near the bottom, where the servants take it out as they see the fire needs a recruit. Every cottor has one of these poles belonging to it, some of which have ten, some twelve, of these lights on their tops, or more or less. They are likewise different in figure as well as in number: one perhaps oval-way, like a gate; another triangular, or like N, or M, &c.; so that every one knows by them his respective cottor. They are carried in the front, and set up in the place where the caravan is to pitch before that comes up, at some distance from one another. They are also carried by day, not lighted; but yet, by the figure and number of them, the hadjis are directed to what cottor they belong, as soldiers are by their colours where to rendezvous; and without such directions it would be impossible to avoid confusion in such a vast number of people."

REMEMBER.

THE WATERS OF ELIM.

"And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees : and they encamped there by the waters.-And they took their journey from Elim."-Exod. xv. 27; xvi. 1.

THOUGH Wells of water, cool and clear, And palms of grateful shade are here, The cloudy pillar moveth on, And we from Elim must be gone. The desert stretcheth far before, Like sea without a friendly shore; No pathway meets the traveller's eye, For nought is there but sand and skyNought save yon column dark and high: And yet we look towards that guide In faith, we must not here abide,The cloudy pillar moveth on, And we from Elim must be gone! Margate. E. W. BRADBurn.

DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

Matt. vi. 25-34.

WHEN clouds and storms obscure the sky, in winter's gloomy reign;

When fields are bare and yield no meat, when fails the promised grain;

Think not the God of nature sleeps, regardless of your prayer;

Shall HE not succour man, who feeds the tenants of the air?

Behold the feather'd tribes,-for them no barns or stores are found,

From morn till eve, through woods and groves, their warbling notes resound;

Yet God supplies their little wants, and guards them with his eye;

And shall he not for you provide? Will he not hear your cry?

And mark the lily's graceful form, and all the flowers that blow,

They toil not, neither spin, for 'tis your Father makes them grow;

Yet e'en the best of Salem's Kings could not with them compare ;

The regal crown, the purple vest, are things not half so fair.

Thus, if he clothes the fields with flowers, and feeds the feather'd race,

Say, shall he not supply your wants, and cheer you with his grace?

Then dry those tears, those griefs restrain, and on his power rely,

Nor night nor day, nor time nor place, can hide you from his eye. High-Wycombe.

J. T. BARR.