in the retina, a little on one side of the centre, and is dif fused over nearly the whole of it. That sight has an intimate connexion with the images which are formed on the retina is manifest from the following facts.—If the eye of an ox, which, in this respect is like the eye of a man, be divested of the schlerotica on the back part, and placed in the hole of a window shutter in a dark room, with the front of the eye outwards, a person in the room will, through the transparency of the retina, see a miniature painting of objects abroad. When the image on the retina is bright, that object may be clearly seen; when the image is faint, or indistinct, or confused, the same will be true of the appearance of the object to the human eye without looking at that of the ox.

These facts prove that the im ages on the eye, are the objects of vision. Philosophically speaking, we do not see the objects themselves, but their images painted on the retina; as we see an image of ourselves when we look in a mirror. Some eyes have too much convexity, which renders the person mioptic, or near sighted. Others, particularly of persons in advanced life, have too little convexity, which occasions dimness of sight.*

Since the objects of sight are in reality the images which are painted on the retina of the eye, we may well be surprised, that so vast a number can be distinguishable in so very limited a compass. Paley remarks that "In considering vision as achieved by the means of an image formed on the bottom of the eye, we can never refleet, without wonder, upon the smallness, yet correctness, of the picture, the subtlety of the touch, the fineness of the lines. A landscape of five or six square leagues is brought into a square of half an inch in diame

* It may be useful to have the young generally informed, that persons who are mioptic, will find it beneficial to hold their book, or other objects which they have occasion to examine minutely, at as great a distance as is practicable, and yet see clearly. This will occasion a gradual conformation of the organ. to expanded vision. To guard against dimness of sight by the pupil's losing its roundness, it has been found highly beneficial, from early life, gently to compress the eyeballs toward each other every morning when they are washed, A clergyman of our acquaintance, upwards of seventy years of age, who has been in this habit from early life, has never had occasion to wear spectacles.

ter; yet the multitades of objects which it contains are all preserved; are all discriminated in their magnitudes, positions, figures, and colours. The prospect from Hampstead Hill is compressed into the compass of a sixpence, yet circumstantially represented. A stage coach, travelling at its ordinary speed for half an hour, passes, in the eye, only over the one-twelfth of an inch, yet is this change of place in the image distinctly perceived throughout its whole progress; for it is only by means of that, the motion of the coach itself is made sensible to the eye. If any thing can abate our admiration of the smallness of the visual tablet compared with the extent of vision, it is a reflection, which the view of nature leads us, every hour, to make, viz. that in the hands of the Creator, great and little are nothing."

After all which has been said on the subject of images being painted on the retina of the eye, and their intimate connexion with vision, What is the power of seeing ? A mirror does not see, though images are painted on it. An eye, when life has ceased, though it be open, does It is obvious that the active agent which sees, is an invisible and indescribable being. Truly we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

not see.

Now if the Author of light and father of our spirits has imparted to men, the capacity for contemplating as many objects at once as the organ of vision can contain, who shall say how much its capacity may exceed these organs of sense? Cannot God impart to a creature the power of contemplating, at one glance, not merely the hundreds of objects which we can view at once, but a million more of such objects? Who knows but the views of disembodied consciousness, may at once embrace this whole globe, with all its scenery, as the eye now takes in an extended landscape P

Who knows but the organs of vision possessed by intelligent beings on the planet Herschel, may, not only be adapted to view objects there with less light than we receive from the sun, but may even see more clearly the circumstances of this world, than astronomers can with their telescopes see the circumstances of the moon. Is it not possible that one glance of that unknown' something which sees objects on the retina of the eye, may hereafter embrace millions of sans with their attendant ed Edit.

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worlds, and the statistical circumstances of each of these worlds. This principle if applied to the judgment of the great day, may admit of a finite mind's glancing at a million of millious of the human race at once, and distinguishing the traits of their moral character, as we now discern shades of difference in colours. Yet, after every expansion of which we can conceive as possible for finite perception, the INFINITE MIND is infinitely greater,

SELECT ANECDOTES.

THE MILNERS.

DR. Isaac Milner, who rose to be Dean of Carlisle, and master of Queen's College, Cambridge, was the son of a poor weaver at Leeds, who died while he was a boy. The support of a mother depended on Isaac and his brother Joseph, who redoubled their industry in cotton spin. ning, and employed their vacant time in the study of a few books which chance had thrown in their way. This singularity attracted much notice among the neighbours; a subscription was at length set on foot, to educate and send to college one of these young men; and Joseph, as the elder brother, and one who, as yet, they thought displayed the most talent, was fixed upon as the object of their patronage. Isaac was, after this, for some time thrown into the back ground, though destined at last to come forward, and to exceed even the fortunes of his brother.

Joseph was sent to the grammar school at Leeds: and the lessons he learnt in the day, on his return home at night, he taught Isaac, who discovered not only a liking for this novel study of the classics, but great quickness of parts, memory, and judgment. Joseph was sent to Cambridge; when, after finishing his studies, he was appointed to a curacy, and the mastership of the Free Grammar School in Hull.

In the mean time, Isaac was bound apprentice to a weaver; but having gained a tolerable knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages, it may be supposed that the

loom did not better agree with his disposition, than the distaff with that of Hercules; he had, however, like the old Theban, the soft influence of attendant charms, to reconcile him to his temporary captivity; for the muses, both in the hours of labour and recreation, were his constant companions. When his brother had got the appointment at Hull, Isaac, who had long compared, with no high degree of satisfaction to himself, the inglorious toils of a mechanic life, with the splendid honours of a literary one, thought this a good opportunity to attempt an emancipation from a trade no way congenial to his disposition, and wrote therefore to his brother, stating his progressive literature, at the same time requesting to become an assistant in his school. Joseph resolved to proceed on sure grounds, and wrote to a clergyman of Leeds, requesting that he would examine his brother, and if he found his attainments considerable, or his genius at all promising, to send him to Hull. The clergyman waited upon young Isaac, whom he found at the loom, with a Tacitus lying by his side. He was now nineteen years of age; and after undergoing an examination of some length, in the course of which he displayed much general knowledge, and a great command of language, he was thought perfectly eligible to be sent to Hull, and in a few days he bade a final adieu to the humble occupation of weaving. He soon rose from the obscurest rank in life; and in addition to all his other literary distinctions, filled the chair of the immortal Newton, as Lucasian professor of mathematics.

DR. KENNICOTT.

WHEN Dr. Kennicott had, after ten years' labour finished his invaluable collation of the Hebrew MSS. of the Scriptures, he published the ten annual accounts of the progress of this laborious undertaking, by which it appears that the whole money received from the subscribers amounted to the sum of £9117.7s.6d; on the recital of which, Dr. Kennicott exclaims, "Reader! what a sum is here! Let foreign nations with astonishment read this story of Britons and their king, aided by one

foreign prince, and one foreign academy, voluntarily contributing for ten years, with several bounties, with a degree of public spirit beyond all example, for the accomplishment of a work purely subservient to the honour of revelation, a work saered to the glory of God, and the good of mankind! and under the powerful influence of this view of my work, it is impossible for me to be sufficiently thankful, either to those who have honoured me with their patronage, as the humble instrument in beginDing and completing it, or to Divine Providence for granting me-life to finish it, as well as resolution to undertake it." The Dr. then states, that after deducting his income to live on these ten years, the money spent in collations abroad and assistants at home, there remained only £500, all of which was likely to be swallowed up in future expenses, which he had engaged to pay. His industry had been unremitting; his general rule being to devote to it ten or twelve hours in a day, and frequently fourteen: at least he 6 this was my prac says, tice, till such severe application became no longer possible, through the injuries done to my constitution,”

BIBLE CLASSES.

Ir is with a lively interest we learn the commencement and progress of efforts for the religious improvemeut of the youth in Salem. The last Sabbath in April, from the THREE pulpits of the Rev. Messrs. Emerson, Cornelius, and Williams, notice was given that their Pastors intended to form Bible Classes in their respective congregations. The youth over 13 years of age were invited to attend that evening, in the vestry of the Tabernacle Society, to learn the wishes of their Pastors, -and those belonging to each congregation were requested to meet their respective Pastors in their several vestries on Wednesday evening, to organize the Classes. Sabbath evening, at an early hour, the Tabernacle vestry was filled to overflowing, and they were obliged to open the Church, the lower floor of which was presently filled. It is believed that from 800 to 1000 youths were then convened. The young manifested a lively interest in the