a widower. He married a publican's widow, a termagant, who had the upper hand over him, and plotted to get his lovely daughter married to one of her own ill-favoured sons by her former husband. The girl con sented to the match; but, as the day for the nuptials drew near, she became so wretched that she lost her reason, and either fled, no one knew whither, or took away her own life. Her fate is left in mystery. The project of the unprincipled mother was to get the farm into her own family. In this she was foiled. The property fell into chancery, and the place became a wreck, the buildings falling rapidly into ruins, the sight of which led to the writing of the piece. Our readers may judge of the whole from a sample or two. Take the opening lines: - "The autumn day was closing, cool and dry; Ere the deep shadows of the evening fell. While cottage windows flashed into a blaze, And starting up beneath the pinewood A moment, stood a golden colonnade: And twilight followed in her sober grey." The mind that is not fascinated with such writing as this can have little taste for either the beauties of nature or descriptive poesy. Let us quote again from another part of the ballad. It gives the picture of happy domestic life before the god of this world had marred it, or maddening drink had made the man a fool, or the habit of gambling had been formed and the goodly estate squandered : "He was a husband worthy such a wife, And, sir, he loved her as he loved his life. For years, I noticed that it was his way THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. ITINERANCY, which dates from a very early period of human history, has become one of the habits of many of our modern institutions. Like many other of our most valued, because most beneficial, usages, it first arose in Israel. The most honoured of those remarkable men who held the reins of government over that singular people from the death of Moses to the setting up of royalty-the Judgesitinerated amongst the tribes, administering the law, and hearing and deciding causes. In times of religi ous revival afterwards, teachers and preachers were sent among the peo ple in all directions. The Son of God himself itinerated. He went throughout the land, from village to village, town to town, and city to city, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and disease. The Twelve and the Seventy, after they had been sufficiently taught for the purpose, were sent to prepare the way before their Master in every city and village to which he would himself go. All the apostles and Christian prophets itinerated. King Alfred, of England, who loved the scriptures, and translated scripture into the tongue of the vulgar, instituted itinerancy for the administration of justice among his subjects. Great preachers and teachers in all periods have itinerated. John Wesley travelled all over the three kingdoms, as well as to other countries, preaching the gospel; and he set up an itinerant system for the spread of scriptural holiness through the land. Moral and political reformers, philosophers and the sons of science, have seen the power there is in itinerancy, and have made it one of their modes of moving society and forwarding their objects. The great Parliament of Science, as the "British Association for the Advancement of Science" has been called, works upon this plan. Like the conferences and annual assemblies of Methodism, it holds its annual meeting for the reporting of progress; the reading of papers, the delivery of lectures and speeches, the exploration of localities, and the transaction of financial and other business, at a different town or city each year, in this way visiting and exploring many neighbourhoods, from one extremity of the kingdom to the other. For several past years the town of Nottingham, situate in the centre of England, and celebrated for its machinery, its antiquities, its historical memories, its neighbouring coal field, its scenery, the live-stock of its surrounding farms, its men of letters and of science and of song, its religious zeal, and its political energy,—has been a candidate for the honour of a visit by the British Association. After much effort and urging, the invitation was at length accepted; and when the association had passed the third part of a century of its existence, it held its thirty-sixth meeting in Nottingham, commenced on the 22nd of August, continued for one week (Sunday intervening), and closed on the afternoon of the eighth day. Had the association visited the town a few years earlier, it could not have obtained all the accommodation it required. The public buildings, besides places of worship, were few and not large. Many have been added to the number within a recent period; and all came into use for the association. The Exchange Hall, the Corn Exchange, the Town Hall, the Mechanics' Hall, St. George's Hall, the People's College, the large and beautiful new School of Art, with its numerous rooms, the Exhibition building, the newly-erected theatre, together with some minor places, and the two newest chapels of Baptists, were all occupied for some purpose or other. The association was distributed into seven sections, each having its report, lectures, papers, and discussions. The sections were those of "Mathematical and Physical Science," "Chemical Science,' "Geology," "Biology," "Geography and Ethnology," ""Economic Science and Statistics," and "Mechanical Science." Some of these had their subdivisions, such as Physiology, Anthropology, &c. By this mode of distribution, an immense amount of information is communicated, and every branch of science comes under review. Three great lectures were delivered in the theatre, which was selected for that purpose because of the greater number that it could comfortably accommodate beyond any other secular building. The first was by the presi dent, W. R. GROVE, Esq., Queen's Counsel, F.R.S., &c., who took a comprehensive survey of the present state of human knowledge, the progress made by science and discovery during the past year, and the prospects of scientific inquiry. The principle to which he gave most prominence was. that of continuity; a principle which discards the theory of successive creations and of sudden revolutions in nature, and attributes diversity of species to natural causes, rather than to distinct origin. The other two lectures were by Wm. HUGGINS, Esq., and Dr. HOOKER; the former on Spectrum Analysis, the latter on Insular Floras. Crowded audiences attended these lectures. The highest and most general interest was created by the appearance and narrations of the African explorers, Sir S. BAKER and M. du CHAILLU, and the Arabian traveller, PALGRAVE. Mr. GLAISHER'S accounts of his balloon ascents and observations also drew a very large company, who listened with delight to his description of several aerial voyages and adven tures. Besides the meetings for purely scientific purposes, there were two grand soirée's, held in the Exhibition building, in which were numerous instruments and implements of various kinds, and a large collection of paintings and engravings. Outside, also, under an awning and enclosed with a solid fence, was a large space for promenading and refreshments, with an extensive artificial rockery, clothed with ferns, mosses, and plants, and having streams of water and cascades intersecting the whole bank of rocks. In the park, also, near the town, was a grand floral exhibition, comprising a large number of rare ferns, plants, flowers, fruit trees, fruits, roots, and similar objects of interest. Part of one day and the whole day following the close of the meetings were devoted to excursions, of which there were a score in number, to surrounding places, interesting for their geology, or their machinery, or their architecture and arts, or for some peculiarity adapted to the tastes of the visitors. Liberal hospitality was rendered by the proprietors of the properties and works visited. A more modest bearing on the part of many of the speakers was observable, in relation to revealed religion, than has been shown at some former meetings of this influential body of men. On the Sabbath, there were clergymen upon a parity with themselves in mental culture and scientific pursuits, occupying pulpits in the town, and teaching modesty, humility, and forbearance to students of nature and to theologians. Better still-on the Sabbath afternoon, a prayer meeting was held in the grand jury room of the Town Hall, attended by a number of scientific men, some of whom exercised in prayer, and by two resident clergymen, who read and offered remarks upon appropriate portions of scripture, and offered prayer. Upon the whole, the visit of the association has been an occasion of general hospitality, high enjoyment, healthy excitement, a wide diffusion of valuable information. Neither the visitors nor the inhabitants will be reluctant, after a suitable interval, to renew their intercourse by having the visit repeated. Religion has been no loser. Morals and taste have been gainers. Happiness has been increased. Good feeling has been generated. Social amenity has been extended. In a word, a multiform benefit has been conferred by the British Association upon Nottingham. Let us hope that every future session of our scientific parliament will be distinguished by progressive good and diminishing evil, as long as it shall continue to exist. Phenomena of the Months. NOVEMBER. THE sun rises on the 1st at four minutes before seven and sets at twenty-eight minutes before five; on the 15th it rises at nineteen minutes after seven, and sets at eleven minutes after four; and on the 30th it rises at sixteen minutes before eight, and sets at six minutes before four. Daylight diminishes forty-eight minutes in the morning and thirty-eight minutes in the evening during the month. The moon is new on the 7th at twentyfive minutes after ten in the morning, and full on the 22nd at fifteen minutes after ten in the morning. On the first Sunday it will set in the afternoon at two minutes after three; on the second Sunday it will set at twenty-five minutes after seven in the evening; on the third Sunday it will be nearly two hours high at sunset, and will shine until nearly two in the morning; and on the fourth Sunday it will rise at forty-three minutes after seven in the evening, to shine all night. The moon will be near to Saturn on the 7th, but too near the sun to be visible; on the 9th it will pass Mercury; on the 10th in the evening Venus and the moon's crescent will be seen together, and on the 13th, at halfmoon, Jupiter will be proximate. On the 22nd the bright star Aldebaran in Taurus will be occulted by the full moon, disappearing behind it at two minutes before ten at night, and reappearing at eight minutes before eleven. Mars will be near to the moon on the morning of the 26th, Mercury sets from thirty to fortyfive minutes after the sun during the month. Venus is brightly visible more than an hour after sunset all the month Its stage of greatest brilliancy occurs about the 5th. Mars rises before nine o'clock on the 1st, and at twenty-three minutes after seven on the 30th, and is visible all night. Jupiter sets at six minutes after nine on the 1st, and at seventeen minutes before eight on the 30th. Saturn rises and sets with the sun at the beginning of the month, and becomes a morning star at the end. Choice Selections. THE GREAT WANT OF THE AGE. CHRIST-LIKE life, springing out of His indwelling in the soul, is the great want of the age. Life which is called Christian, resting upon and originating in family or church education, in creeds, in professions, in ordinances, in ceremonies, in the fear of man, in the wish to appear moral and respectable, there is an abundance; but of the other there is a great lack. Saul of Tarsus had such a life as the one, only under the 3 name of a Jew instead of a Christian. And many who possess it now inherit a similar spirit of bigotry and persecution towards the Jew, who have the real Christ-like life, to what he manifested towards those who then "called on this name." But the life of St. Paul, after God revealed His Son in his heart, was as exactly Christ-like as it had previously been Pharisee-like. Then, as his Lord, he was earnest, faithful, humble, 1 holy. He preached the whole counsel of God. He warned every man, taught every man, that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. He was in labours more abundant. He feared no suffering for the truth. He yielded to no temptation of evil. He laid the axe at the root of the tree of ritualism, &c., when it was likely to corrupt, or retard the growth, or in any way to affect the tree of truth, which grew in close connexion. Officers in church or state, whatever their dignity, power, claims, goodness, he respectfully regarded as subordinate to his Lord; and crouched to none so as to dishonour his Master, or destroy his own Christian sense of personal responsinbility. His life was not dear to him alongside Christ; and for Him he could, with grand heroism, which was worthy the public plaudits of angels, surrender his life to the devouring lion of Rome. A Christ-like life would be the clearest manifestation of God. There is a desire to see God on the part of the world; and hence it gropes for Him in the thousand-paged book of nature; but there they only find Him in part, and that imperfectly. Even many who search the Bible gain but indefinite notions of Him. But a Christ-like life brings Him into the sphere of man, where he can see and hear for himself. He cannot gainsay this. He wants no philosophy to understand it. It commends itself, as the sun by his light; as the flower by its fragrance; as the air by its salubrity. He confesses that God is there of a truth. The man possessed of this life "becomes," as one says, 66 a Bible, which, in the clearest tones, proclaims the presence of his Lord. Nothing on the earth seems to me so truly godlike as such a man. Before his noble charity, his deep sympathy with the sorrowing and sinful, his firm scorn of the false, and brave adherence to the true,-in a word, before that blessed revelation of an indwelling Christ that breathes through his words and sanctifies his deeds, I could almost offer the deep reverence of tears. I would point the sceptic to such a man, and ask him, Is there not something divine in that life that bears witness to a divinity in Christianity? and challenge him to answer that argument. When men feel that, they may mock our pretensions, they may doubt our loud professions, and perhaps with some reason; but, if we have only a life that re-produces the image of our Master, they will be compelled to feel His living presence in the world." (Rev. E. L. Hull.) A Christ-like life in man is a mighty means of bringing men to God. While it reveals Him, it attracts to Him. The life of an angel would not be so effectual in this as a Christ-like life. It has an eloquence in its voice, and a power in its actions, which are greater than the united forces of all nature, all intelligence, all science, all philosophy, and all morality. "I shall soon become a Christian, despite myself, if I remain here much longer," was the feeling of a celebrated infidel, who for some time watched the daily life of an eminent man of God, in whose family he was visiting. The keenest and strongest shafts of the preacher can be thrown off by the polished armour of a religious respectability. The mere profession of this life can be evaded by a fixed regard to conscientiousness and sincerity. on the part of many; but the silent, regular, consistent, holy, Christ-like life, sends out an influence irresistible in its appeals to the conscience and the judgement. Apart from this, all the orderly, exquisite, intellectual machinery of the Church is futile in converting the world. It is when with this there is the deep conviction wrought by the holy living of Christians, that they have been with Jesus, that men seek the Lord.-Bate's Speaking to the Life, pp. 243-246. MATTHEW HENRY'S ITINERANT Ir is pleasing to find that the godly commentator, before Methodism existed or John Wesley was born, did a considerable amount of itinerant work in his own and neighbouring counties. The religious state of the country moved him, as afterwards the founder of Methodism, in this way, as well as others, to copy the example of the Lord Jesus. His biographer makes the following statements :— Prior to his settlement at Chester, the state of the surrounding and adja 66 cent villages was, in a spiritual aspect, most deplorable; gross darkness covered" them. A few only, and those scattered here and there, were found who retained the savour of religion, who read the scriptures, and prayed in their families. Most of them were persons advanced in years, the relics of declining puritanism. To them he was life from the dead. Actuated by a spirit perfectly missionary, Mr. Henry did not confine himself even to the places which have been named (villages around Chester). He extended his exertions far and wide. Frequent were his journeys to Whitchurch, Wrenbury Wood, Wem, Boreatton, Prescot, and Shrewsbury; and, usually, he made Broad Oak in his way either going or returning. At all those places his labours met with great acceptance and success. At Boreatton and Prescot he, for many years, occasionally administered the Lord's Supper, though not, as it would seem, very cordially. He did not much like what was "merely occasional," though willing to encourage, as he could, "the keeping up of religion in a family of note, where it had been uppermost." To Nantwich, Newcastle (underLyne), and Stone he paid annual visits, and sometimes to Market Dray. ton and Stafford, preaching wherever he came. Some time before his removal to Hackney, he journeyed, likewise, once a year, into Lancashire, testifying the gospel of the grace of God at Manchester, Duckenfield, Stockport, Bolton, Chowbent, Hindley, Warrington, and Liverpool." The union formed by the "Dissenting Ministers" in Cheshire for Christian edification, and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, had, in Mr. Henry, a cordial friend, and an able and zealous advocate.-Memoirs of Matthew Henry, by Sir J. B. Williams. Edition 1865, pp. 135-6. THE ZAMBESI DELTA. THE process by which a delta, extending eighty or one hundred miles from the sea, has been formed, may be seen going on at the present day. The coarser particles of sand are driven out into the ocean, just in the same way as |