but with heartfelt gratitude. I had not till then found out that our condition was more comfortable than that of many, and that we had less reason than we supposed for vexations and complaints.

I have already stated my persuasion that from all I could learn, cholera is highly communicative. My own case, however, may be adduced as evidence to the contrary; may I therefore trespass further on the patience of the reader, by inserting a few observations illustrative of my ideas on the subject.

The fact appears to be, that we are placed in the midst of innumerable natural agents, either in active operation or only waiting a proper occasion to spring into activity. In cases of earthquakes, plagues, and pestilences, those dreadful visitations which sometimes depopulate a province or a city, who can tell how far they depend on the negligence or the agency of man? Since the invention of metal conductors, which were first employed by the American philosopher as a protection against lightning, fewer fatal accidents have occurred from electricity; and scarcely any where that precaution was adopted. It may be reserved for some future philosopher to discover, by what means earthquakes niay be prevented, and the countries now subject to that dreadful scourge preserved from desolation. Should such discovery be made, any nation, province, or city, neglecting to adopt it, and afterwards visited by an earthquake, might properly be considered its own destroyer. In like manner, should a person suffer calamity from lightning, or from any other natural agent, when antidotes are provided which he has omitted to employ, the calamity may justly be attributed to himself. When in Quebec, I observed a boy almost blind; and on making inquiries respecting him, was informed, that it had been occasioned by the action of the sunbeams on the snow, and their reflection on the vision of the boy. Should loss of sight be the consequence, the parents must be considered as having occasioned it, by neglecting to furnish their son with shades and glasses. In Lapland and Greenland, I was told, the inhabitants

from similar causes are frequently blind at an early age. Such are guilty of suicidal blindness, in proportion to their knowledge of an antidote, and their ability to obtain it. Whatever dangerous or fatal consequences happen to mankind, from want of caution in avoiding or guarding against their causes, must be regarded as self-inflicted. In the instance of that dreadful pestilence inflicted on the Israelites, after David's foolish numbering of the people, we may reasonably suppose that those who fell before it, had debilitated or injured their bodily constitutions, or were in some respects more liable than others to disease and dissolution. The same observation may be extended to that dreadful visitation the cholera; since it was observed to be confined more especially to those whose mode of life, generally speaking, was detrimental to health. do not mean to insinuate, that this was universally the case, or that many good and temperate people were not its victims. But it was more fatally prevalent among such as had lived intemperately, or had subsisted upon unwholesome food, or had not sufficient proper nourishment, or had exposed themselves to situations dangerous to health. It was almost invariably found to take up its quarters in the earthly tenement of those, who had prepared their constitutions for its reception. Now, just in proportion to this preparation for disease, may every one invaded by cholera be viewed as having welcomed it, and his own blood as resting on himself.

In all ages, at intervals, various plagues and epidermic disorders have raged in every climate. Against the virulence of these, mankind are furnished with numerous antidotes, which are generally efficacious if habitually used. These consist in strict temperance; in using such exercise and medicines as keep the body in a proper frame, and rectify the unwholesomeness or impurities of meats and drinks; in avoiding all needless communication with persons or places of doubtful character, or reported to be infected; in keeping the mind unruffled and composed, free from such turbulent emotions as endanger the corporeal faculties. I do not say, that these antidotes are

always a safeguard from infection or contagion; but they are so generally. In places where such plagues, 'as have committed the greatest ravages, and have been the most circumstantially related-in London, for instance-persons of temperate habits have been more frequently spared, and survived the visitation. And after the plague has abated, less of sickness has for some time been felt in reference to the population, than in previous years. This can only be accounted for, by imagining that all whose constitutions had been previously impaired being taken off, none but those of sound health were suffered to escape; the antecedent state of the body, as the case may be, repelling or courting the contagion.

Many of those who were attacked by cholera in the vigour of youth or manhood, and not enfeebled by intemperance or other causes, sustained its shock without experiencing its fatality. Yet it sometimes happened, that a person of delicate and slender form, even without any previous debility, who had survived the cholera, relapsed into some fever, and expired in a state of mere exhaustion. This was the case of a young lady, whose nuptials I had solemnized a short time previous, and who requested, on her death-bed, that the same clergyman who married her might perform her funeral service. She resided about five miles from Thornhill, and although my services were requested on these two occasions, yet she and her family did not attend my church, but frequented another nearer their house, at which one of the professors of York College officiated.

The burial service over her grave, from her recent marriage and dying request, was more affecting than any office I performed in Canada. Her interment took place in the midst of a violent and tremendous thunder-storm, during which the gleams of lightning and peals of thunder were awful. Large hailstones fell mingled with the rain, some of which, driving with great velocity against the church windows, shattered the squares of glass in pieces. The rain fell in torrents, and inundated the grave, out of which two of the men were employed in

emptying the water. I had walked from our house to the burial-ground, and had become parched and thirsty. Whilst these men were lifting the water from the grave, I employed the time in collecting hailstones off the hillocks which surrounded me, and which covered the ashes of departed mortals, and with them I quenched my thirst. It is customary in Canada for ministers to make short extemporaneous addresses at funerals, and episcopal ministers frequently adopt the same practice. My Lord Bishop of Quebec advised all his clergy to accustom themselves to extemporary preaching and prayer; since so many sudden calls might be made, for which no preparation could be given. The friends of the young lady entreated me to conform to the general custom; and as in cases of cholera I never allowed the corpse to be carried into the church, I expressed my acquiescence, and desired the people to attend me. We entered the consecrated temple, and after a brief interval of prayer and meditation, I delivered my first unpremeditated sermon, if any subject can be called unpremeditated which daily and extraordinary sickness forces on our notice, and places continually in our view.

The friends of the departed bride invited me to their house, which my engagements obliged me to decline. They offered me pecuniary recompense which I also refused. One of them then insisted on my taking his horse, and riding to a neighbouring inn, where another should be provided for me. This was not refused, and I thus received that peculiar kind of requital, which so captivates and pleases,-namely, the grateful feelings of those we serve, and such ready accommodation as suits our circumstances. This I often experienced on other occasions; and I assert with confidence, that no deserving clergyman will fail to receive it in that generous and hospitable land.

They supposed, that extensive acquirements are not needful. My judgment and theirs are widely different.

If the same unparalleled progress in education and improvement continue in Canada, which has been developed during the last three years, she will set a luminous example to the States which they will be proud to imitate. A university will soon be in progress of erection in Upper Canada, which it is supposed will be completed in two or three years. A large extent of the finest lands has been granted as an endowment, which in time will be sufficient to place the establishment on so liberal a scale, as will attract professors of the greatest literary eminence. Government is doing much for the moral and intellectual improvement of that charming region.

The first visitation held in York by the present Bishop of Quebec, was attended by three or four clergymen only. But so great have been the augmented numbers of the established church, that twenty-six were present at the last visitation. I appeared among them, but did not count the number. The circumstance was told to me by a neighbouring clergyman, who has been present at every visitation. The bishop is much beloved by his clergy, and does every thing in his power to render them comfortable and respected. They regard his lordship, from his simplicity of manners and unaffected piety, and also from his long missionary labours, as a truly apostolic bishop.

His lordship may be properly considered as the father and founder of the church in Upper Canada. He has nursed and reared it up. His only solicitude is the prosperity and increase of his diocese, in ministers, and congregations abounding in every christian virtue. His lordship's own life is one of the best models which any clergyman could imitate. Every person, of whatever denomination, acknowledges his exemplary pattern, and admires his purity of life and mildness of deportment.

On the day of his lordship's visitation, a dinner was provided at his private expense for the clergy who attended. It was pleasing to witness the assemblage of so