number of young, which it is the nature of each species of the mammalia to produce. The rule, which some naturalists have laid down, is, that they are twice as numerous as the young; and, though there are exceptions, as in the case of the Guinea-pig, which has only ten teats, and sometimes even twelve young; yet, in general, this rule will be found to be nearly correct. In the elephant, for example, as well as in the human species, there are two breasts, and, except very rarely, only a single young one; while the hare has ten teats, and three, four, and sometimes five young. What wonderful proofs of merciful contrivance! How can all this be accounted for, except on the conviction that the whole arrangement is that of an infinitely wise, kind, and compassionate Creator?

From the milk of the cow, several well-known kinds of nourishment are derived. The principal of these are butter, butter-milk, curd, cheese, and whey. Butter is nothing but the oily part of the milk, separated from the other ingredients by means of violent commotion. It is a highly nutritive food, and, when moderately used, especially in its fresh state, along with bread, or other similar aliment, it is very wholesome, as well as delicious. Butter-milk is the substance that remains after the butter has been taken from the churn. When the best part of the cream alone is used in churning, it forms a very refreshing, agreeable, and wholesome beverage. Curd is milk newly coagulated, and, as all the component parts still remain together, it is considered almost as nutritive as milk itself. Cheese is formed by subjecting the curd to strong pressure. Its qualities are different, according to the mode of its preparation, the quantity of oil retained by the curd, and the length of time it has been kept. Though highly nutritious, it is difficult of digestion, and, except by the robust, should be used only as a condiment. Whey is the fluid that remains after the curd and the oily particles have been separated from the milk. As the saccharine and saline ingredients arc

alone held in solution by it, with the exception of a very small portion of the animal principles, it cannot be very nutritious. But, being cooling, antiseptic, and otherwise medicinal, it is highly recommended by physicians in some cases of disease. W. W. D.

FIFTH WEEK-WEDNESDAY.

HUMAN FOOD.-WINE.

THE juice of the grape was manufactured into wine in the earliest periods of the post-diluvian world. Scripture informs us, that, soon after the flood, Noah "began to be an husbandman, and planted a vineyard, and drank of the wine." The intoxicating effect which it seems to have unexpectedly produced, has led some to conjecture that the process of fermentation by which wine is produced, was then new to the world, and was consequent on a change in the atmosphere, and in the principles of vegetable life, introduced into our globe by the same disruption which occasioned the catastrophe of the flood. I see nothing either absurd or anti-scriptural in this conjecture. It may readily be allowed, that, even in events which, in one important sense, must be considered as miraculous, the Almighty may have sometimes acted by the intervention of second causes, productive of very extensive natural changes; but, whether this be admitted or not, it may be true that it was the will of the Supreme Governor, that, in the new order of things, some principles, before unknown, should make their appearance. The gradual shortening of human life, the phenomenon of the rainbow, the permission to make use of animal food, and the principle of vinous fermentation, may possibly all be connected with such a change in the system of the natural world. There is no Scriptural authority, however, for such an opinion; and it must be ranked

among those speculations, which may be harmlessly indulged in, but cannot be established by proof.

The art of fermenting the juice of the grape has been familiar in the East, from the time of Noah till the present day; and wine is spoken of as a strengthening and exhilarating liquor in all the ancient records, both sacred and profane. It is curious to notice, however, that wine was not very early introduced into those parts of Europe which are now most celebrated for its successful cultivation. The Phoenicians appear to have transported it into the islands of the Mediterranean, whence it found its way into Greece and Italy. When Rome was founded, this plant seems to have been little known in Italy; but, in a subsequent age, it had become so plentifully distributed, and its produce had risen to such repute, that Pliny mentions the desire of possessing a land of vineyards as one great cause of the irruption of the Gauls into that country.

The vine was introduced by the Romans into Britain; and it is a curious fact, established by documentary evidence, that this plant was once extensively cultivated in the south of England, where not a vineyard is now to be found.* This is one evidence, among many others, of a change of climate consequent on cultivation. The vine still grows wild in some of our southern counties.

In France, the cultivation of the grape was not common till the seventh century. It has since become the great staple commodity of the southern provinces of that country, where it is more successfully propagated than in any other region, and where some of the finest wines are made for exportation. †

* The county of Gloucester is particularly recommended by Malmsbury, in the twelfth century, as excelling in its vineyards; and the Isle of Ely was known to the Normans, under the name of the Isle of Vines. Vineyards are also frequently mentioned in the descriptive accounts contained in Doomsday Book.

† In 1823, there were, in France, about four millions of acres under vine cultivation, the annual mean product of which was twenty-two millions and a half pounds sterling. In the same year, wine and brandy were exported from that country, to the amount of considerably more than three millions pounds sterling.

In the "Spectacle de la Nature," we find the following eloquent eulogium on wine, when used with moderation, and applied to the purpose for which the Creator intended it. 66 Who, till the fact had been experienced, could ever have imagined, that a growth of despicable wood, more deformed and brittle than any other class of plants, and, when cut down, the most useless of all, should yet be capable of producing so exquisite a liquor! If we only plant it in a dry and sandy soil, which discovers all the outward marks of sterility; this very soil, when once it has been diluted with moderate dews, will unfold a multitude of clusters, that swell with a delicate and sprightly juice for the accommodation of man. It is the peculiar privilege of wine to introduce vivacity and joy wherever it appears. It diffuses an air of serenity over all the features, by its dissipation of sadness, and every cloud that pensive musings had drawn over the mind. It softens enmity, and becomes the persuasive mediator of the softest reconciliations. It likewise proves the support of man in the course of his fatiguing employments. The Deity, amidst the rigid labours to which he has made it absolutely necessary for man to submit, was unwilling to overwhelm him with their weight, or to leave him destitute amidst the gloom of his melancholy thoughts. While his Providence disposes the earth to furnish the industrious husbandman with such bread as is qualified to nourish and strengthen him, it likewise prepares for him a liquor which gladdens his heart, and reconciles him to all his toils."*

If there be some painting in the passage I have quoted, every one must allow that it is substantially true. The tendency of wine is to exhilarate and support, and this doubtless is the purpose for which it has been bestowed by a bountiful Creator. But who does not know that there is another side of the picture, and that, instead of good, it is, by the folly of man, but too frequently converted into evil, both to individuals, and to society.

* Abridged from "Spectacle de la Nature," vol. ii, dialogue 13.

What has been already said of ardent spirits, may, less emphatically, however, be applied to wine,-that, when taken to excess, it destroys the body and demoralizes the mind. But let it be observed, that such an abuse is not peculiar to fermented liquors. A liability to misapplication belongs to every sublunary thing; and the immoderate use of any gift is generally reproved and punished by some unhappy consequence which attends or follows it. Men are taught to read their sin in their punishment. Such is the kind of discipline with which it pleases our Unseen Governor to exercise us. The sin is within our reach; we are even invited, as it were, by various external allurements, to be guilty. But, on the other hand, stands a disapproving conscience, an admonishing Revelation, and a frowning Providence. We may be entangled in the snare, but it is with our eyes open, and at our everlasting peril. If we fall we fall willing victims; and the disasters which ensue, are at once our punishment for the past, and our warning for the future; while a present Deity offers encouragement and strength to the returning penitent. Frequent disregard to these inward and external calls, are justly followed by judicial blindness. The correction becomes, indeed, more severe, but less deeply felt. The heart is wilfully rendered callous, and the conscience seared, till debauchery and drunkenness end in ruin; and thus the Righteous Governor is justified, while the rebel perishes.

FIFTH WEEK-THURSDAY.

HUMAN FOOD.-TEA AND COFFEE.

THERE are two vegetable productions of warm climates, which, in all civilized countries, custom has converted into essential ingredients of ordinary food,—I allude to the leaf of the tea-tree, and the berry of the coffee plant;