commend to their observance. Be careful not dividual Christians, the work of righteousness ministers, but live, with the joy, and gratitude, to indulge them in any thing of an evil ten-is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quiet- and praise of Jehovah, which beseemeth those dency. Keep them while young, out of the ness and assurance for ever. that believe what they believe, and those that vain fashions, the corrupt customs, and unproare entering into the celestial choir,-they fitable conversation of the world; training TRAITS OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. would, then, be an honour to God and their them up in that commendable simplicity and John Smith, of Cambridge. From this spi- Redeemer: and would win the world to a love plainness of speech, habit and manners, prac- rit, together with the rest of Christian graces of faith and holiness; and make them throw tised by our Lord, and his faithful followers; that were in him, there did result a great se- away their worldly fool-games, and come and and, as they ripen in age, guard them against renity, quiet, and tranquillity in his soul: see what it is, that these joyous souls have the reading of plays, romances, and other which dwelt so much above, that it was not found. 1800. licentious publications, of a nature prejudicial shaken with any of those tempests and storms, But when we show the world no religion, to the promotion of true Christianity; likewise which used to unsettle more low and abject but sighing and complaining, and live a sadder against the public pastimes, and pernicious minds. He lived in continual sweet enjoyment life than they; and yet talk of the glad tidings diversions, of the age; all which are the in-of God: and so was not disquieted with scru- of Christ, and pardon, and salvation: we may ventions of degenerate and corrupt spirits, and ples and doubts of his salvation. There was talk so, long enough before they will believe strongly tend to draw the incautious mind from always discernible in him, a cheerful sense of us, that seem no more to be believers oura sense of religious duty, to bring it into a God's goodness, which ceased not in the time selves; or, before they will leave their fleshly state of alienation from the love of God, and of sickness. Jebb. pleasures for so sad and dreadful a life as this. to deprive it of that inexpressible comfort and Bishop Benson. He was, from his youth Baxter. delight which attends the daily exercise of re-to his latest age, the delight of all who knew ligion and virtue. him. His manner and behaviour were the re- "What is the church of God under the new sult of great natural humanity, polished by a agreement or covenant? It is a company of thorough knowledge of the world, and the living stones, quickened by God, and knit toYe parents, be ye solicitous to discharge most perfect good breeding, mixed with a gether in the unity and fellowship of his spirit, your important and awful duty, with scrupu- dignity, which, on occasions that called for it, to worship God together in his spirit, and lous attention. It is often too late to warn the no one more properly supported. His piety, offer up unto him spiritual sacrifices, acyouthful mind of danger, when your own ne- though awfully strict, was inexpressibly amia- ceptable to God by Jesus Christ. How are gligence or indulgence hath suffered your off-ble. It diffused such a sweetness through his these stones joined together? By the Spirit of spring to deviate from that path of simplicity, temper, and such a benevolence over his coun- life, which begets them all in one nature, and in which you have thought yourselves bound tenance, as none who were acquainted with knits them together in that nature-by the into walk, and in which you have found peace. him can ever forget. Bad news, bad health, ward circumcision-by Christ's baptism, which If you fail to suppress the early beginnings of and naturally bad spirits, were so totally sub- is the baptism of fire and of his spirit, which undue liberty, how can you expect a blessing dued by it, that he not only seemed, but in burns up the old earthly nature, and so bapon your endeavours, when further deviations reality was, the happiest of men. tises them into one new living body, suitable 66 at length arouse your attention; and how, hav- He looked upon all the world calls import- and fitting to their head, which is the fountain ing failed to rule your own houses well, can ant-its pleasures, its riches, its various com- of life, and distributes life through all the you expect duly to "take care of the church petitions-with a playful and good-humoured body, according to its capacity, need and of God;" by performing that too much ne- kind of contempt, and could make persons service. glected duty of private admonition therein? ashamed of their follies, by a raillery that Upon what is this church built? Upon There were of old those who brought children never gave pain to any human being. Of vice, the rock or foundation of God, which God to Christ, in the days of his flesh; and now he always spoke with severity and detestation; hath laid in his spiritual Zion, which rock is the religious parent can breathe no warmer but looked on the vicious, with the tenderness Christ. For other foundation can no man lay, aspiration for them, than when he spiritually of a pitying angel. His turn was highly soci- than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. commends his tender offspring to the protec-able: and his acquaintance very extensive. Nor other rock did the Lord ever choose for tion of his Lord. But see, Friends, that you Wherever he went, he carried cheerfulness his church to be built upon; nor hath any encourage no propensities in them which pre- and improvement along with him. As nothing other rock sufficient strength to bear up the vent a union with him. Restrain them, we but the interests of Christianity and virtue, building against the storms and stress of the beseech you, from associating with those seemed considerable enough to give him any powers of darkness, which it often meeteth whose influence and example lead away from lasting anxiety, so, on the other hand, there with, even every member in its travels. After his law; and be especially careful that you in- was no incident so trifling, from which he it is once built upon the Rock, the gates of troduce not among them, publications, which could not raise amusement and mirth. hell press hard upon it, but abiding on the are either wholly, or in part, repugnant to the Joseph Alleine. It is his highest excellency, Rock, it feels the strength and preservation. faith, as it is in Jesus. Let it be your own in my eyes, that he attained to a right tempera- of the Rock. For as they cannot prevail daily care to endeavour after closer communion ment of the Christian religion, suitable to the against Christ, so neither can they prevail with him, and to walk in meek submission to glorious hopes of faith, and to the wonderful against that which is built upon him. But if his commands: so may you gain, over the love of the Redeemer. And, when most there be a going forth from the strength and minds of the youth providentially placed under Christians think they have done much, if they preservation, there is a liableness to be made your care, that ascendency which arises from can weep and groan over their corruptions, a prey. And the promise is not absolutely the united effects of sound judgment, truest and can abstain from the lustful pollutions of and perpetually to that person or congregation love, and a good example. the world, in the midst of many doubts and which is received or let into the truth, but to fears, love and joy, and a heavenly mind, that person or church which abideth in the were the internal part of his religion: and the truth unto the end. The Jews were safe in The passages which follow, have occurred large and fervent praises of God, and thanks- the faith and obedience of their covenant; and to me in my late reading, and may serve to giving for his mercy, especially for Christ, and the Christians, or Christian churches, are not diversify the pages of "The Friend;" some the spirit and heaven, were the external ex-safe but in the faith and obedience of theirs. who are sickened with the frequent, but ne- ercises of it. He was no despiser of a broken For if they walked not humbly with the Lord, cessary exhibitions of "Man's inhumanity to heart; but he had attained the blessing of a and in his fear, which keeps the heart from man," or pained by the perhaps somewhat healed, joyful heart. And, oh! how amiable departing from him, and in the faith whereby overwrought delineation of the doctrinal errors it is, to hear the tongue employed, seriously they stand, they were to be cut off from their of our fellow believers, may dwell with plea- and frequently, in that which it was made for; church-state, as well as the Jews were from sure on the proofs here afforded, that whatever and to see a man passing, with joyful hopes, theirs, as the Apostle Paul expressly tells the be the degree of knowledge vouchsafed to in- toward immortality! Oh! did Christians, yea, church at Rome. Rom. xi. 21, 22. For "The Friend." "Was the church always to be a gathered visible" of his cell, an animal squatted, vis- feet one inch in height, and of a very athletic company? or was there a possibility of their a-vis, on his table, and was soon able to per- form; so, to be subjected to the grasp of such being scattered? There was a possibility, yea, ceive that it had a long slender tail, and was an individual was no joke, as the general's a certainty, if they grew corrupt in doctrine not a cat, which at first he imagined it to be, lady expressed herself; but as we knew the and practice, and kept not the faith. For the but an enormous rat. He had an unconquer-poor captain was quite compos and harmless, Lord God intended a pure building, a spiritual able antipathy to rats; and, springing from his we enjoyed the joke amazingly. The old gebuilding, fit to offer the spiritual sacrifices. seat, cried aloud with terror, and overturned neral entreated of him to come down, while 1 Pet. ii. 5. An holy people, separated from his table; the noise brought in a turnkey, who the captain obstinately refused until pues was the world. 2 Cor. vi. 17, in which he might found him pale, and nearly senseless; and it dismissed. The general in vain tried to condwell and walk. If therefore any church de- was a long time ere he recovered himself. vince him of her innocent intentions, which part from the spirit, and life, and power of the This animal had been the companion of a pre- increased the convictions of all present that apostles, and mix again with the world, losing ceding prisoner, who had tamed it; and so the captain was cracked. By this time all the their own proper påle which fenced from the well did the horrible solitude of the Bastile ladies had made good their retreat, and some world, they soon lose that which maketh them operate in removing the antipathy of Crebillon of the younger ones stood peeping in at the a church of God, and so become a synagogue to these creatures, that at length he became door, with the handle in their hand, in case of of Satan."-Pennington. reconciled to its company, and even shared the captain trying to follow them. Things his provisions with it. The case of Crebillon beginning to assume a serious aspect, we lift"Ye are kept by the power of God through may serve as a useful hint for effecting the ed puss, and rung the bell for a servant to refaith unto salvation. Can any thing preserve cure of most other antipathies to animals. move it out of the room, after which the capa soul or church, but God's power? And doth Many men have also strange antipathies to tain descended, and in a few minutes resumed God preserve any soul or church, but in the cats; and so strongly does the sight of them his wonted coolness. An explanation followway he hath appointed? A church is like a affect some individuals, that their whole frame ed, and this irresistible infirmity of the capgarden, needs digging, dressing, watering and becomes agitated. A striking instance of this tain's was felt by those who witnessed the lusunshine, to cause it to thrive and flourish. kind came within our own personal knowledge. dicrous scene, more with pity than contempt; Do not weeds casily spring up in a garden? The late Captain Logan, of Knockshinnock, and we will venture to say, that such was the Yea, ranker weeds than in common ground, in Ayrshire, had such an unconquerable aver-impression which was made at the time, that which spread apace and overrun it faster, if it sion to all cats, that he would not remain in none who witnessed it will ever forget the be not looked to and kept by the gardener. the room with one on any account whatever. scene. Read the figure, and understand. Are not We have known ladies to expostulate with him The inhabitants of Britain, in the mass, are spiritual weeds as corrupt and spreading as on the affectionate and harmless dispositions haters of toads and frogs; while it is well the outward? Are they not like leaven; have of their grimalkins, vowing that they would known that in France there is a species of the they not a poisonous, infecting nature in them? touch nothing larger than a rat; but their elo- latter animal which is considered a delicate Know ye not,' saith the apostle, that a little quence was invariably lost on the captain, who article of food; thus verifying the old proverb, leaven leaveneth the whole lump.' If but one lent a deaf ear to all their pleadings. that "what is one man's meat, is another's root of bitterness spring up in a church, it He could detect immediately the presence poison." may defile many, and trouble the whole. And of a cat from smell, even although he could There are not in nature two more harmless as one corrupted person, so also one corrupted not possibly see it in the room, being under a animals than the toad and frog; the idea which church, may infect and poison many more. sofa, or some such place; and he uniformly generally prevails, that the former is poisonYea, was it not thus in the apostacy? When insisted on its being turned out of the room, ous, is all a fable; and a dread of these creait once got head, did it not break in and over-before he would compose himself to enter into flow apace?"-Pennington. conversation. tures is instilled into us by the folly of nurserymaids, who hand it down with great care from On one occasion, while his regiment was one generation to another. There have been stationed at Tynemouth, we happened to ac- various instances of individuals making pets ANTIPATHIES TO ANIMALS. company the captain to pay a visit to the fa- of these animals, and they have been rewardMany men have strange antipathies to ani- mily of General R, We found several ed for their attentions by watching the singular mals. Some of these are accountable, as de- visiters in the house besides the family. Among manner in which they take their food, and prey pending upon form; others, profoundly myste- the rest was the late Sir CG, then upon insects and worms, and also from some rious in the why and the wherefore. Some commanding the northern district of England, curious experiments which have been tried ladies fall into hysterics at the approach of a and some officers of his staff. When deeply with them. spider. Snakes are generally objects of fear, engaged in a political conversation on the The tree-frog, which is a native of America, rather than antipathy, from the deadly power events of the times, the domestic cat, a frolic-France, Germany, and Italy, and many other which some of the species possess; but why a some young animal, came scampering into the European states, has been kept by Dr. Townbeautiful lizard, a sleek mouse or rat, should room, when the gallant captain started from son, who had them in a window, and approbe objects of antipathy, it is difficult to con- his seat, and mounted a chair with all possible priated to their use a bowl of water, in which jecture: elegant in form, and harmless, they alacrity, to the no small astonishment of all they lived. They grew quite tame; and to might at least be looked upon with compla-present, as none of them were aware of his two which he had in his possession for a concency. The sight of a rat has been known to dread of cats. Every body supposed the cap-siderable time, and were particular favourites, throw even the male sex into convulsions. tain had been seized with a sudden fit of lu- the doctor gave the names of Damon and MuClaude Prosper Juliot de Crebillon, a name nacy; the ladies bounced up, several made sidora. In the evening, they seldom failed to conspicuous in the annals of French literature, their way towards the door, and even the two go into the water, unless the weather was cold was confined in the Bastile, in pursuance of patriot generals and the staff-officers seemed and damp; in which case they would somethe caprices of one of the old Bourbon satraps, to entertain doubts as to their personal safe- times abstain from entering it for a couple of who often shut up in dungeons the men of the ty; and, in particular, we noticed Sir Cdays. When they came out of the water, if age most conspicuous for talents, and who G- keeping an attentive watch on the a few drops were thrown upon the board, they were known to promulgate unsavoury truths. handle of the captain's sword. In short, always applied their bodies as close to it as One night, Crebillon felt what he thought to every countenance but our own bore marks of they could; and from this absorption through be a cat reposing by his side in bed: glad of anxiety, and we laughed outright, to the no the skin, though they were flaccid before, they such a companion in that silent mansion, small displeasure of the general's lady, who soon again appeared plump. A tree-frog, that where to many a prisoner "hope never came," thought it no joke, and entreated us to pacify had not been in the water during the night, he stretched out his hand to caress it; but it our friend. was weighed, and then immersed; after it had ran away. The following day, when seated at We must mention, that Captain Logan was remained half an hour in the bowl, it came his dinner, he saw, through the "darkness then a man of about thirty years of age, six out, and was found to have absorbed nearly Cost of a Railway Act.-The parliamentary costs of passing the act of the Southampton railway appear, by a published account, to have amounted to nearly £20,000. From the New Monthly Magazine. THE FRIEND. SIXTH MONTH, 13, 1835. The eighteenth annual report of the managers of Friends' Asylum near Philadelphia, instituted for the benefit of persons afflicted with insanity, which we have inserted to day, (see our second page,) presents in several respects, highly interesting particulars, and merits an attentive perusal. We note with particular satisfaction the contemplated additional An industrious and virtuous education of arrangements for the recreation and employchildren, is a better inheritance for them than ment of the patients, more especially those in a great estate.-Spectator. a state of convalescence; and all the circumstances enumerated in the report duly consi dered, the proportion of entire restorations is truly encouraging, viz. ten out of fourteen of the recent cases admitted during the past year. The remarks contained in the report of the intelligent attending physicians, in relation to the facts that this deplorable malady is equally, with other diseases of the human system, under the control of proper medical treatment, and that the chances of a cure being effected are immensely increased or diminished, according as the patient is promptly, or at a late period of the disease, placed under proper restraint and treatment, deserve the very serious consideration of relations and others, having any concern in the guardianship of persons under mental alienation. BY JOSIAH CONDER. half its own weight of water. From other stem, and put the buds into water wherein has Chambers' Ed. Journ. Memory of the Bullfinch.-Tame bullfinches have been known (says Buffon) to escape from the aviary, and live at liberty in the woods for a whole year, then to recollect the voice of the person who had reared them, and return to her never more to leave her. Others have been known which, when forced to leave their first master, have died of grief. These birds remember very well, and often too well, any one who has injured them. One of them having been thrown down with its cage, by some of the lowest order of people, did not seem at first much disturbed by it, but afterwards it would fall into convulsions as soon as it saw any shabby dressed person, and it died in one of these fits, eight months after its first accident.-Bechstein's Cage Birds. Natural Flowers in Winter.-To produce these, some of the most perfect buds of the flowers it is wished to preserve, such as are latest in blowing, and ready to open, must be chosen. Cut them off with a pair of scissors, leaving the stem about three inches long; That is not home, where day by day, Departed this life, at his residence at Marlborough, cover the end immediately with Spanish wax, Ulster county, New York, FOSTER HALLOCK, a valuable and, when the buds are a little shrunk and member and elder of Marlborough monthly meeting, wrinkled, wrap them up separately in paper, in the 69th year of his age. and place them in a dry box. When it is desired to have the flowers to blow, take the buds over night, cut off the sealed end of the on the 13th of fifth month, ELIZABETH RO BERTS, late consort of Samuel Roberts, in the 75th year of her age, an elder and valuable member of The Georgia Recorder states that the proposed treaty, providing for the removal of the Cherokee Indians, which had been referred back to them for their final approval, has been met by an uncompromising opposition on the part of the Indian council held at Red Clay.— Poulson's Am. D. Advertiser. The Richmond Compiler remarks upon the extravagantly high prices which are offered for slaves, in consequence of the profits now made by the culture of cotton in the southwestern states, that Mr. Malone, of Alabama, was in Virginia, offering $700 each for men from 18 to 25 years of age, and $500 each for girls of similar ages.-Ibid. FRIENDS' READING ROOM. The rooms will be opened for the admission of subscribers and visiters, on second day evening next, the 15th instant, at 7 o'clock, and continue to be opened at that hour every evening, (except first day,) until further notice. The friends of the institution generally are invited to call and view the premises. The room down stairs is to be used as a conversation room; in the room up stairs conversation is not admissible. Entrance on Appletree alley, second door above Fourth street. Subscribers will be furnished with their tickets shortly. terbury, Orange county, New York. PRINTED BY ADAM WALDIE, Carpenter Street, below Seventh, Philadelphia, A RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY JOURNAL. VOL. VIII. EDITED BY ROBERT SMITH. SEVENTH DAY, SIXTH MONTH, 20, 1835. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NO. 50, NORTHI FOURTH STREET,-UP STAIRS, PHILADELPHIA. For The Friend." THE PHENOMENA OF VISION. NO. 37. into more close comparison with the works of reflected or driven back, and part enters the human art, than those of either of the other body and is either lost within it, as in opaque senses, they have been the subject of peculiar bodies, or is transmitted through it as in transinterest and study. parent ones. The reflection of light is goThe organ of vision is the eye; and so com- verned by certain immutable laws. As these, plicated is the contrivance, and so exquisite however, are not particularly concerned in the workmanship displayed in its construction, the mechanism of the organs of vision, I shall that it has been styled by some physiologists, not dwell upon them; but as that sense is mathe master-piece of divine mechanism." But terially influenced by the refraction of rays of though its organisation is complicated, yet its light in their passage through the eye, and the action is characterised by great simplicity. whole structure of the organ displays, in the It is," says Arnott, "in its simplicity so per-most striking manner, the exact correspondfect, so unspeakably perfect, that the search-ence which exists between the construction of In the physical construction of man, the ers after tangible evidences of an all-wise and different parts of the human frame, and the great Author of our being has most strikingly good Creator, have declared their willingness physical laws which the great Creator has esdisplayed his infinite skill and wisdom, by the to be limited to it alone in the midst of mil-tablished, I must say a few words respecting fabric and adaptation of the organs of the lions, as their one triumphant proof." some of the changes which light undergoes in external senses to the execution of their re- Of the structure of the eye, and the phy-being transmitted through transparent bodies. spective and peculiar offices. It is by the siology of sight, I propose giving some de- Whenever a ray of light passes through a agency of these instruments, that we become scription; preceding it, however, with a few body, unless it falls upon its surface perpenacquainted with the objects which surround observations upon the properties of light, and dicularly, it is bent, or made to deviate from us, and, through their action upon the brain, some of the laws which govern its motions; a straight course, and this deviation is greater receive our knowledge of the world, and are as upon them most of the phenomena of vision or less, according to the density of that body. able to fulfil our relations in it, and to each depend. This is the reason why an object under water other. What light really is, remains unknown, but appears in a place different from that which it But while the senses perform so indispens- it is supposed to be an emanation, or some really occupies; and a stick, one part of which able a part in the animal and intellectual eco-thing which proceeds from bodies, by means is immersed in water, appears bent at the nomy, and are constantly administering to our of which we are enabled to see them; and two point where it enters. If the light proceed perceptions and gratification; how few take hypotheses have been suggested, respecting from a rarer to a denser medium, as from air the trouble to investigate, or even pause to its origin and propagation. According to the into water, it is refracted towards the perpenreflect upon the elaborate mechanism of the theory of Newton, it consists of extremely dicular; on the contrary, if it proceed from a organs employed, and the inimitable art with minute particles, emanating from all luminous denser to a rarer medium, as from water into which they are adapted for the reception of bodies, moving uniformly in straight lines, and air, it is refracted from the perpendicular. impressions, to modify and combine them, and with a prodigious velocity. According to This change of direction in the course of rays transmit them in regular succession to the that propounded by Descartes, it is supposed of light, is materially influenced by the shape seat of sensation and thought. To the unin- to resemble sound; being produced by an of the bodies through which they pass. If the structed or unreflecting individual, nothing elastic fluid, diffused through all nature and body has parallel surfaces as in our window more seems necessary, in order that he may excited to action by the luminous source. glass, the refraction of the ray on entering, is behold external objects, than the effort to di- Both of these suppositions are liable to objec- corrected by that which occurs on its passing rect his eyes towards them; that he may as- tions, but the former is now generally receiv-out: that is, the bend which takes place upon certain the solidity of the bodies within his ed. Whatever light may be, it is emitted in its passing out of the air into the glass, is exreach, than to stretch forth his hand and lay all directions from every point in the surfaces actly counterbalanced by that made when it it upon them. He inhales the fragrance of the of luminous and visible bodies, and the par- passes from the glass into the air again. But dewy mead, listens to the melody of the grove ticles which succeed each other in a straight if the surfaces of the medium (glass for inor the thunder of the cataract, and dreams not line form what is called a ray of light. It is by stance) be convex; that is, shaped like the that all these delightful sensations are the re- these rays proceeding from bodies either directly outside of a watch crystal, then the rays of sults of agents of the most subtile nature, act- or by reflection, and striking upon the eye, that light falling, upon one of these surfaces and ing by complicated laws upon an organisation we are enabled to see them. Thus, when a passing through the glass, will be refracted so the most refined and curious: nay, that this is lighted candle is brought into a room, the as to come to a point, or focus, behind the but the first step to perception, to complete flame is seen by the rays of light emitted di- opposite side; and this point will be nearer to and retain which, a series of changes must rectly from it; but the objects in the room are the glass, in proportion to the distance of the intervene, and many intellectual operations be seen by the light which they receive either di- object from which the rays of light come. If performed. rectly or indirectly from the candle, and again the surfaces of the transparent body are plain, Of the five senses, there is no one through thrown back to the eye.. The velocity with but inclined towards each other, as in the which the mind derives more signal advantage which light moves is almost inconceivable; common prism, the refraction of a ray of light and pleasure, than that of sight, it being the coming from the sun to the earth in eight mi- in passing into it at one surface, instead of beintermediate source through which we acquire nutes; which is at the rate of about two hun- ing compensated for by the change made at a large portion of our knowledge of the pre-dred thousand miles in a second: it would, emerging, as when passing through the winsence, situation, and colour of the objects therefore, make the circuit of our globe in dow glass, is increased in consequence of the which surround us; and as the structure and the time which it takes a person to wink. position of the surface through which the ray functions of its organs admit of being brought When light falls upon a body, part of it is escapes. such as is given off from luminous bodies, is In speaking of light heretofore, I have conFor "The Friend." tention into their case. 'How they manage sidered it as a simple substance or fluid; but Deal Boatmen.-George Phillpotts.-County to live,' said the overseer of the parish, God Newton, to whom science in its varied departof Kent. only knows! I can solemnly assure you they ments is so greatly indebted, has conclusiveThe eighth article of the last number of are starving,' exclaimed one of the magisly demonstrated that each ray of white light, the London Quarterly Review, is on the sub. trates. Its them floating lights that governin itself composed of several differently co- The general purport of the article will, per- keeper, a radical advocate for what he called ject of the late alterations of the Poor Laws.ment has put on the Good'in sands which has ruined 'em,' observed a short, fat, puffy shoploured rays, each of which possesses proper-haps, be sufficiently indicated, by quoting the freedom of mankind. Finding that all ties peculiarly its own. It is not here necessary to enter into a description of the various the following introductory remarks: "On the day the Poor-Law Amendment people in different terms corroborated the experiments, by which that great philosopher Act passed into a law, it occurred to us, that same evidence, we strolled down to the beach discovered and proved this singular fact. Sufand endeavoured to get into conversation with fice it to say, he found that a ray of white light it might be determined to bring the new code the boatmen themselves, but from them we were we to go personally to any spot where consists of a red, orange, yellow, green, blue, could not extract one word of complaint. indigo, and violet coloured ray, each differing calmly to review the old condemned law in at once into operation, we should be enabled in their refrangibility. This decomposition of calmly to review the old condemned law in Yet their countenances told plainly enough what their tongues disdained to utter-in light explains the cause of the different colours its full operation, as well as the first strife, of bodies. When light falls upon a body, it struggle, or conflict between it and its infant short, it was evident that they were subsistis, as I have before observed, either all re- antagonist. The practical working of the acting on low diet. "Dressed in blue jackets and trowsers, flected, or thrown back from the body, all ab- might possibly prove so different from the they were sitting before their houses of call, sorbed, or some of the component rays reflect- theoretical intentions of its framers, that on ed, and some absorbed. If all is reflected, a point of vital importance to all classes of loitering in groups on the beach, or leaning against the boats, while their tarred canvass the colour is white; if all is absorbed, it is our society, but especially to the poor, we clothing, apparently stiff enough to have black; if it reflects the red ray and absorbs resolved to judge for ourselves, and gravely walked alone, was hanging against the low to form our opinion on a strict, impartial ana- clinker-built hovels which sheltered their best the remainder, the colour is red; if the green is reflected and the others absorbed, it is green, lysis of facts. sails, oars, &c., from the weather. Exceptand so of the rest; and all other colours than "With this serious object in view, we ac- ing a wind-bound fleet, riding at anchor, with the primitive, are formed by the mixture, in cordingly accompanied the Assistant Poor- heads, like cavalry horses, all pointing the various proportions, of the rays reflected: so Law Commissioner who first sallied forth on same way, there was not a vessel in sight, that no substance can be said to have a colour his official errantry, into one of the most and their prospects altogether, certainly, did in itself, but merely possesses the property of troublesome districts in the country. For appear about as barren as the shingle under sending off to the eye, some of the coloured four months we never left him for a moment their feet. I am afraid you are badly off rays of light. It is supposed that the particu--in fact, we were his shadow. We inspect-now-a-days, my men?' said the assistant lar arrangement of the molecules of any body, ed every poor-house in East Kent-attended commissioner to four able-looking seamen is the cause of its reflecting different rays of all his public meetings of magistrates, parish-who were chewing (instead of tobacco, which light: but how this arrangement produces its officers, and rate-payers-observed how and they would have liked much better) the cud why he divided the whole of East Kent into of reflection. He received no answer-not effect is unknown. I have before observed, that the rays of unions-remarked by what assistance he suc-even a nod or a shake of the head. light passing through a medium with convex ceeded in effecting this object, as well as ob- "Finding there was no wisdom in the mul. surfaces, are brought to a point or focus, be- taining the consent in writing of the guar- titude, we returned to the inn, and having hind it. They do not, however, all meet pre-dians for the dissolution of all the old existing previously learnt that George Phillpotts was cisely in one point; those which pass through unions. We pored over his calculations, one of the most respectable, most experiencthe lens near its edges, meeting a little in front sifted his data, studied his reports: we listed, as well as most daring of the Deal boatof those which go through the centre. This ened to the sturdy arguments occasionally men, we sent a messenger for him, and in variation constitutes what is called "the aber- raised against him—and with equal imparti- about twenty minutes the door of our apartration from sphericity," and in common lenses ality we listened to his replies. By convers- ment opened, and in walked a short, cleanproduces some confusion; which, however, is ing with the magistrates, yeomen, parish-offi- built, mild-looking old man, who, in a low obviated in our optical instruments, by placing cers, peasantry, and paupers, we made our tone of voice, very modestly observed that an opaque body perforated in the middle, an- selves acquainted with public opinion as well he had been informed we wished to speak terior to the lens, so as to allow the light to as private interests, and it will now be our with him. strike only on the centre of the glass, and endeavour to lay before the public, in the "At first we conceived that there must thus have all the rays brought to the same unpretending form of a few unconnected have been some mistake, for the man's face point. It will be seen, that this is accom- notes, a short review of these proceedings." did not look as if it had ever seen danger, plished in the eye by the iris, the perforation The writer proceeds to develope a variety and there was a benevolence in it, as well as through which is called the pupil. The differ- of curious and interesting information, in re- a want of animation in his small blue eyes, ent rays of light vary in the degree in which lation to the pauper system, and its operation that appeared totally out of character with his they are refracted by the same body, the violet in the county of Kent; but our object will calling. His thin white hair certainly show. being the most, and the red the least bent out be limited to a few extracts, delineative of ed that he had lived long enough to gain exof the straight course: hence, a body viewed the character and habits of a singularly hardy, perience of some sort, but until he answered through a lens, will appear more or less tinged adventurous, half amphibious race of human that his name was Phillpotts, we certainly did with different colours. This dispersion of the beings, inhabiting the Kentish coast, includ- think that he was not our man. constituent rays, is called "the aberration of ing a brief, but highly graphic description of "Well, George, what shall it be?' we refrangibility," and the inconvenience result- the county of Kent, which, it will be remem- said to him, pointing to a large empty tuming from it, is obviated by combining transpa-bered, forms the most projecting part of the bler on the table. He replied that he was rent bodies of different densities, the varying southeastern coast of England, on the straits much obliged, but that he never drank at all, dispersive powers of which shall compensate of Dover. unless it was a glass of grog or so about eleeach other, and show the body seen through Having been assured by various classes ven o'clock in the morning; and strange as it them in its proper colour. Glasses thus con- of people as well as convinced by documents, may sound, nothing that we could say could stituted, are called "achromatic." There is which have already been submitted to our induce him to break through this odd arrange a peculiar structure in the eye to obtain the readers, that the Deal boatmen were in a state ment. As the man sat perfectly at his ease, same effect, almost of famine, the assistant commissioner looking as if nothing could either elate or felt it his duty to look with considerable at- depress him, we had little difficulty in ex (To be continued.) |