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King George III., Anno Domini 1814."

Every vendor of the different commodities gave his customer some token printed for the occasion. On Thursday, the 3rd, a sheep was roasted near Bankside. The admission to the booth where this took place was sixpence each. There were two swings on the ice which met with a few customers. There was a barge fixed in the ice near the centre arch of London Bridge; it was taken possession of by a party with a fiddler, who hoisted a flag and made merry.

Every hour increased the number of visitants and amusements till Saturday, Feb. 5th, when the newspapers began to warn people of the danger of a sudden thaw upon the then state of the tide, and the Lord Mayor also issued orders for all booths to be struck on Saturday evening; in consequence many withdrew, though several remained to a very late hour. On Sunday, February 6th, at two o'clock in the morning, on the flowing of the tide, a dreadful explosion took place. Nothing could describe the crush; in a moment everything flew the same way, as if a sudden blast of gunpowder had exploded. Barges, lighters, wherries, and other kinds of vessels were dashed to pieces; several barges lying off Queenhithe, Paul's Wharf, and the Three Cranes, were broken in two; and the immense large piles, full eighteen inches square, that they were fastened to, were snapped asunder. Although much damage was done and many persons were in great peril, yet there were no lives lost.

The Thames at nine o'clock on Sunday morning resembled the desolate prospect of the northern seas, wrecks and masses of ice floating and driving about in the greatest fury. Everything left of the fair had vanished away.

On Friday a fair was also held upon the ice at Chiswick, a great number of booths and shows being fitted up on the Thames.

"The destinies of our race depend more on its future mothers than on anything else."-Binney,

THE NEW BURIALS BILL. FIRST INTERMENT IN AMBLESIDE UNDER THIS ACT.

A FUNERAL ceremony was conducted lately, which attracted unusual attention, because it was the first in Ambleside to which the permissive clauses of the new Burials Act are applicable. It is matter for congratulation that the two representative ministers in this parish-Church of England and Wesleyan-are able and willing to act fraternally whenever an appropriate occasion presents itself, and this has recently been most pleasingly manifested at the interment of Miss Woodend, a member of one of the families worshipping at the Wesleyan Chapel.

Shortly after two o'clock on the above day, a number of those interested assembled at the deceased's residence, Rydal Road, where, after singing one of Wesley's hymns, a procession was formed, the Rev. M. Ingle preceding the bier. On approaching the gates of the Wesleyan Chapel, the minister, as is customary, read a portion of the burial service, commencing, "We brought nothing." The corpse was then taken into the schoolroom attached to the chapel, where the Rev. M. Ingle read the lesson from 1 Corinthians xv., 20th and following verses. He then delivered a suitable address, and said :

"I saw her within an hour or two of her death, and heard her testimony, To be with Christ would be far better.' There was not the shadow of a doubt, and she was quite calm in the immediate prospect of entering the world of spirits. During a long affliction, she was enabled by the grace of God to possess her soul in patience. I never heard anything like murmuring or repining. I know that she keenly felt the trial of being laid aside from the activities of lifesome of her earthly hopes were blighted-some of her purposes broken off-but she was strengthened to submit and to say, 'Not my will, but Thine be done.'

"But while this is an occasion of deep solemnity, it is also one of peculiar and special interest, because this is the first interment in this

parish under the new Burials Act. We are to-day placing ourselves in harmony with the law of our country, which now permits the minister of each denomination of Christians to conduct the funeral services of the deceased members of his congregation when it is desired to bury them in either the churchyards or the consecrated parts of the parochial cemeteries. And through the kindness and courtesy of the Vicar of Ambleside, who has always manifested a desire to bridge over any non-essential distinction between us, we have the assurance of his concurrence in the course we are adopting, and may hope for his association with us when we go to the grave. And for the same reason the use of the church bell has been granted. It is hoped that the service of to-day will strengthen the bonds of Christian union and promote the glory of Him who is Head over all things to His Church."

Prayer was then offered that the mournful event might be blessed to the living, by leading them to prepare for dying.

The company then proceeded towards St. Mary's Church, and was met at the gates by the Rev. J. W. Aston, M.A., vicar, who walked before the bier into the church, and read the sentences with which the Order for the Burial of the Dead commences. The body was conveyed, without any deviation from custom, into St. Mary's, where the Vicar read the 90th Psalm, and afterwards briefly addressed the congregation. He remarked that it seemed fit, as they met together under special circumstances, that some words should be said by him as minister of that church. All present would be aware that a change had lately taken place in the form of burial. That afternoon he felt sure they would all have their thoughts directed from the consideration of what had taken place regarding the law. They should rather think of this as the committal of the remains of one to the ground of the parish churchyard. Let one and all as they gathered round the graveside bury all minor differences of opinion,

and meet together as members of the Church of Christ. They were about to commit one to the ground whom he could not but describe as one who would be laid to rest in sure and certain hope of everlasting life.

The coffin was then taken to the graveside, where the Rev. M. Ingle read the Burial Service, the Vicar associating by reading the concluding collect and pronouncing the Benediction.

In conclusion, the Rev. M. Ingle gave out the 940th hymn in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, which was harmoniously sung, and seemed to express the sentiments and desires of those present: and thus appropriately closed a most interesting service which will long abide pleasantly and profitably in the memory of those who had the opportunity of attending it, and which, by the order, devoutness, and mutual arrangement evident throughout the whole proceedings, indicated а desire to manifest the teaching of the 133rd Psalm, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

THE LATE DEAR "DOMESTIC INSTITUTION" OF AMERICA.

I SHALL never forget a scene which took place in the city of St. Louis, while I was in slavery. A man and his wife, both slaves, were brought from the country to the city for sale. They were taken to the rooms of Austin and Savage, auctioneers. Several slave speculators, who are always to be found at auctions where slaves are to be sold, were present. The man was first put up, and sold to the highest bidder. The wife was next ordered to ascend the platform. I was present. She slowly obeyed the order. The auctioneer commenced, and soon several hundred dollars were bid. My eyes were intently fixed on the face of the woman, whose cheeks were wet with tears. But a conversation between the slave and his new master attracted my attention. drew near them to listen. The slave, was begging his new master to purchase his wife. Said he, "Master, if

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you will only buy Fanny, I know you will get the worth of your money. She is a good cook, a good washer, and her last mistress liked her very much. If you will only buy her, how happy I shall be!" The new master replied that he did not want her, but if she sold cheap, he would purchase her. I watched the countenance of the man, while the different persons were bidding on his wife. When his new master bid on his wife, you could see the smile upon his countenance, and the tear stop; but as soon as another would bid, you could see his countenance change, and the tears start afresh. From this change of countenance, one could see the workings of the inmost soul. But this suspense did not last long; the wife was struck off to the highest bidder, who proved not to be the owner of her husband. As soon as they became aware that they were to be separated, they both burst into tears; and as she descended from the auction stand, the husband, walking up to her and taking her by the hand, said, " Well, Fanny, we are to part for ever on earth. You have been a good wife to me. I did all that I could to get my new master to buy you; but he did not want you; and all I have to say is, I hope you will try to meet me in heaven. I shall try to meet you there." The wife made no reply; but her sobs and cries told too well her own feelings. I saw the countenances of a number of whites who were present, and whose eyes were dim with tears at hearing the man bid his wife farewell.Narrative of William W. Brown, a fugitive slave, published at Boston in 1848.

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even a portion of the day, but to whose share, in consequence, fall all the minor duties; small, indefinite pieces of work left undone by the other members of the household. These, small and apparently of no account in themselves, are yet necessary in their fulfilment for the good and comfort of all. Like many others, she yearned for more definite work, work that would show; she sought for result in her labours. Such, however, she could not have, and without it she often, as on this day, fancied herself of no use, and became too frequently depressed without cause. This was a mistake. As she lay back in her chair, with the cry, "What is there to show?" the thought struck her, "I will recall all I have done this morning, it will be a little satisfaction. Let me see: first, I trimmed the lamps." Something at this moment checked her, and, repeating the words aloud, "trimmed the lamps," she paused, for her mind was recalling Matt. xxv. (the parable of the ten virgins). Whilst pausing, conscience spoke, and she fancied she heard the words repeated, 66 trimmed the lamps," with the question, "But hast thou trimmed thy lamp? The lamps of the household have been duly cared for, but what of thine own, that lamp which God has entrusted to thee, and which He expects thee to keep ready for Him?" Startled by the voice within, she took her Bible and opened it at the chapter named, determined to examine self by its light. As she read in humility and prayer, the Holy Spirit convinced her that she had allowed the oil of her own lamp to run out, in thus yielding to a spirit of discontent and depression because the work marked out for her 66 was scrap work, not that of her own choice nor to her natural taste. She saw now that her lamp, if not extinguished, had yet become dim; that she was failing to let her "light so shine before men " that they might see her good works and glorify God. Humbled under a sense of her sin, she knelt at the throne of grace, confessed her fault, and besought pardon with renewed grace-i.e., fresh oil for her lamp-from the Giver of all

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Good, and descended from her room, determined to let her lamp burn before men, content that her work, with its results, should be in God's hands alone.

LITTLE ONE'S KINDNESS. MADAME DE GENLIS relates the following anecdote in her admirable work of the "Little Emigrants: "" "One morning, when we came to the mill, we did not find Lolotte, who was in the fields; while we were waiting for her, my father and I conversed with the miller's wife. I had brought several playthings for Lolotte; and the miller's wife, laughing, told me that they would not please her so well as a little flour. How?' said I. She replied, For three weeks Lolotte has cared for nothing but heaping up flour; every morning she comes to beg some of my husband, who gives her a handful; besides this she invents a thousand little schemes to get some from me; and when she sees me in a good humour, or when I caress her, I am sure she is going to say, 'Give me a little flour.' The other day we had made some muffins, and I carried one to her; her first movement was to take it, and then she considered, and said, 'Keep your muffin, and give a little flour. This is odd,' said my father; and what does she do with all this flour?' 'She has asked us for a large sack,' replied the miller's wife, and there she puts it; the sack is by her bedside, and it must now be almost full.' During this conversation I said nothing; but reflecting upon it, and perfectly knowing Lolotte, I guessed the cause. I remembered that I had often come to see her with Monsieur and Madame d'Ermont; that we had frequently spoken of France before her; that Monsieur d'Ermont had mentioned the scarcity of bread, and had said that the counter-revolution would be effected by famine. I doubted not but Lolotte's store of flour had some connection with this, but lest I might be deceived, I kept silence. At last Lolotte returned from her walk; after having embraced us, she sat upon the knee of my father, who did not fail to ques

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tion her with regard to the flour. Lolotte blushed, and evaded answering by saying we would laugh at her; but when she was closely pressed to explain herself, I saw her countenance take that moving expression which it always has when she is going to cry; and then she said, with a broken voice, 'It is because I knew that very soon there would be no more bread in France, and I want to send a provision of flour to my nurse, Caillett.'

THE LORDSHIP OF MAN.

SCRIPTURE is no story of the material universe. A single chapter is enough to tell us that "God made the heaven and the earth." Man is the central figure there; or to speak more truly, the only figure; all that is there beside serves but as a background for him. He is not part of the furniture of the planet, not the highest merely in the scale of the creatures, but the lord of all; sun, moon, and stars, and all the visible creation borrowing all their worth and their significance from the relations wherein they stand to him. Such he appears there in the ideal worth and dignity of his unfallen condition; and even now, when only a broken fragment of the sceptre with which once he ruled the world remains in his hand, such he is commanded to regard himself still.

ABP. TRENCH.

CHURCH STATISTICS. TUESDAY, Feb. 8, 1881, the Annual Church Meeting was held at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Increase by baptism 314; by letter 101; by profession 38-Total, 453. Decrease by dismission 142; by dismission to form new church at Tooting 5; by joining other churches with letters 50; emigrated 12; died 75; excluded for non-attendance 106; removed for other causes 5-Total 399, leaving a net increase of 54, and making the number of members on the books 5,284.-Sword and Trowel, March,

1881.

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he remembers to have read of the Rev. David Stoner as writing bitter things against himself, while at the very same time the town in which he was stationed was ringing in admiration of his eloquent and admirable discourses, he was not prepared for the following, till in his course of reading he fell upon it the other day. It was a remark made by the late Rev. Thomas Jackson on the loss of his partner in life: "When I returned home on the Sunday evening, after my pulpit labours, there was none to whom I could with equal freedom express my thankfulness for the comfort I had felt in the service of God, or my regrets under the consciousness of my defects." If an able minister of the New Testament like Thomas Jackson felt his defects, no wonder that many Local Preachers should from time to time be feeling, "Who is sufficient for these things?

CONTINENTAL SUNDAY. AN American traveller abroad, writes:-"Whatever else Vienna may have, she has certainly no Sabbath. Unless the traveller keeps a close watch of the lapse of time, he will himself forget the recurrence of Sunday; for there is nothing here—as in most Continental cities-to remind him when the Lord's Day has come. We have been in Vienna two Sabbaths, and outside of our own party and a few American and English travellers, we have not heard any suggestion of the day. Traffic, work, amusements and worldly occupations have gone on just the same on the rest day, as on the work days. Indeed, the theatres and the dance-houses do a better business than on any other day. The Catholic Church (for nearly everybody here is a Roman Catholic) has services on the Sabbath, and small audiences gather; but the noise of business outside drowns the voice of prayer. Continental Europe has virtually set aside the fourth commandment.-Weekly Review, Nov. 15, 1879.

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THE sun rises on the 1st at thirtyeight minutes after five, and sets at thirty-one minutes after six. On the 30th the sun rises at thirty-seven minutes after four, and sets at nineteen minutes after seven. The day lengthens during the month one hour and one minute in the morning, and forty-eight minutes in the evening. Total increase of light in the month, one hour forty-nine minutes.

Full moon on the 14th at fifty minutes after eleven in the morning. New moon on the 28th twenty-four minutes after ten in the morning. She is nearest to the earth on the 19th at midnight, and most distant from it on the 7th.

Mercury is a morning star, rising on the 1st at thirty-nine minutes before sunrise. She is near the moon on the 26th at about midnight.

Venus is an evening star, setting on the 1st at 10h. 34m. p.m.; setting on the last day of the month at fiftyone minutes after sunset. She is near the moon on the 1st, and again on the 28th.

Mars is a morning star, rising on the 1st one hour and eight minutes. before the sun. On the 30th, one hour twenty-one minutes before the sun. He is near the moon on the 24th.

Jupiter sets on the 1st one hour twenty-seven minutes after sunset. He rises seven minutes before the sun on the last day. He is near Saturn on the 22nd, and near the sun on the same day, and near the moon on the 28th.

Saturn sets on the 1st one hour thirty-three minutes after sunset. He rises at about sunrise on the 29th. He is near the sun and Jupiter on the 22nd, and ne ar the moon 28th.

High water at London Bridge on the 1st fifteen minutes after three in the morning, and thirty-five minutes after three in the afternoon. On the last day of the month at fifty minutes

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