to this object. I left the forge and my native place to carry this plan into execution. I travelled on foot to Boston, a distance of more than a hundred miles, to find some vessel bound to Europe.

In this I was disappointed, and, while revolving in my mind what step next to take, I accidentally heard of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester. I immediately bent my steps towards this place. I visited the Hall of the American Antiquarian Society, and found there, to my infinite gratification, such a collection of ancient, modern, and Oriental languages, as I never before conceived to be collected in one place; and you may imagine with what sentiments of gratitude I was affected, when, upon evincing a desire to examine some of these rich and rare works, I was kindly invited to an unlimited participation in all the benefits of this noble institution.

Availing myself of the kindness of the directors, I spend about three hours daily at the Hall, which, with an hour at noon, and about three in the evening, make up the portion of the day which I appropriate to my studies, the rest being occupied in arduous manual labour. Through the facilities afforded by this institution, I have been able to add so much to my previous acquaintance with the ancient, modern, and Oriental languages, as to be able to read upwards of fifty of them with more or less facility.-Quoted from EVERETT's Education and Knowledge.' 1. The use of the word "brethren" in the sense of "children of the same parents" is obsolete: better "brothers."

6

Compact.
Examined.

THE BATTLE OF THE NILE.

Pursuit.
Superficial.

Exclaimed.
Conflagration.

Effusion.
Instantaneous.

THE French admiral had moored his fleet in Aboukir Pay, in a strong and compact line of battle. The advantage of numbers, in ships, guns, and men, was in favour of the French. They had thirteen ships of the line and four frigates. The British had an equal number of ships of the line, and one fifty-gun ship. Our ships were all seventy-fours; the French had three eightygun ships, and one three-decker of a hundred and twenty guns. During the whole pursuit, whenever circumstances would permit, it had been Nelson's practice to have his captains on board the 'Vanguard,' and explain to them his own ideas of the best modes of attack. The moment he perceived the position of the French, closely as they did lie to the shore, it struck Nelson that where there was room for an enemy's ship to swing, there was room for "If we one of ours to anchor, and place her between two fires. succeed," exclaimed one of his captains, "what will the world

Say?" "There is no if in the case," replied the admiral; "that we shall succeed is certain; who may live to tell the story is a very different question." It was almost sunset when the battle commenced; in half an hour there was no other light than that from the fire of the contending fleets. The first two ships of the French line were dismasted in a quarter of an hour; and within the same space the others suffered so severely that victory was already certain. Within two hours, at halfpast eight, the third, fourth, and fifth were taken possession of. Meantime Nelson received a severe wound on the head. The great effusion of blood caused an apprehension that the wound was mortal. Nelson himself thought so; a large flap of skin from the forehead, cut from the bone, had fallen over his eye, and the other eye being blind, he was in total darkness. When he was carried down to the cockpit, the surgeon, in the midst of a scene scarcely to be conceived, instantly quitted the poor fellow then under his hands that he might attend the admiral. "No," said Nelson, "I will take my turn with my brave fellows;" nor would he suffer his wound even to be examined till every man previously wounded was properly attended to. Fully believing that he was about to die, as he had ever desired, in battle and in victory, he called the chaplain, and delivered to him what he supposed to be his dying remembrance to Lady Nelson. When, in due time, the surgeon came to examine the wound, the most anxious silence prevailed; and the joy of the wounded men, and of the whole crew, when they heard that it was superficial, gave Nelson deeper pleasure than the assurance that his life was not in danger. The surgeon requested him to remain quiet; but Nelson could not rest. He sent for his secretary, Mr. Campbell, to write the despatches. Campbell, who had himself been wounded, was so affected at the blind and suffering state of the admiral, that he was unable to write. The chaplain was sent for; but before he could come, Nelson took the pen, and traced a few words, marking his devout sense of the success already obtained:-" Almighty God has blessed His Majesty's arms.' He was now alone, when suddenly a cry from on deck announced that the French admiral's ship, 'L'Orient,' was on fire. He found his way up, unassisted and unnoticed, and to the astonishment of every one, appeared on the quarter-deck, giving orders that boats should be sent to the relief of the enemy. It was soon after nine that the fire on board L'Orient broke out. Admiral Brueys, a brave and able man, had received three wounds, yet he would not leave his post; a fourth cut him almost in two. By the prodigious light of the conflagration the situation of the two fleets could be

clearly perceived. About ten o'clock L'Orient' blew up with a shock felt to the bottom of every vessel. The greater part of the crew stood the danger to the last, continuing to fire from the lower deck. The tremendous explosion was followed by a silence not less awful; the firing ceased on both sides; and the first sound that broke the silence was the dash of her shattered masts from the vast height to which they had been exploded. No incident in war, produced by human means, ever equalled in sublimity this instantaneous pause. The firing recommenced, and continued till about three. At daybreak, only two French ships of the line had their colours flying. Not having been engaged, they, with two frigates, cut their cables, and stood out to sea. It was generally believed by the officers that if Nelson had not been wounded not one of these ships would have escaped. However, the victory was the most complete in the annals of naval history. The British loss, in killed and wounded, amounted to 895; of the French, 5,225 perished. "Victory," said Nelson, "is not a term strong enough for such a scene; it is a conquest." Of thirteen sail of the line, nine were taken and two burnt; of the four frigates, one was sunk, and another villanously burnt by her own captain, who, after striking his colours, set the ship on fire, and escaped on shore.-Abridged from ALISON's History of Europe?

THE determination to adhere together as one nation, and to become distinguished by remaining such, and thereby becoming in time a multitudinous and mighty population, was in direct opposition to the design of their Creator, in that part of the plan of human nature which was now to be carried into execution. This required that mankind should not grow up into one dense population, or be massed and confined into one vast empire, living in a few overcrowded cities, and thereby occupying a very small portion of the earth. It was not suited to the improvement of human nature that one uniform system of habits, and manners, and pursuits, should pervade all the human race. It. was not for the advantage of mankind that there should be only a Chinese form of human nature in the world.

It was, therefore, the settled determination of the Creator, that as soon as the renewed population became numerous enough to

be divided, they should be disparted and moved into distinct and separated portions, which should be scattered and placed at a distance from each other, and in these different locations should gradually be formed into many varieties of mind, manners, and occupations, and be kept aloof from each other until these diversities were secured and established, and afterwards should only have that sort of intercourse, and those relations with each other, as the appointed economy of human affairs should make expedient for the accomplishment of the purposes of the Divine government.

The united population resisted this intention, and pursued their own schemes to prevent the ordained division and diffusion; and nothing less than a superhuman interposition could have effectuated the separation. But when this was resolved upon, the mode chosen for realizing the Divine purpose was one simple, sagacious, and of irresistible operation.

Nothing unites associating mankind more naturally and more cordially than a similarity of language. It creates a social relationship wherever it exists; and the new race had continued, after the deluge, with this interesting and effective band of intellectual kindship. It was, therefore, to this that the Divine agency was directed. This mental chain of social alliance was broken up. A supernatural operation on their vocal organs and memorial associations-separating the sounds of their utterance from their sensorial ideas so far as to confound this connection, and to make certain portions unintelligible to the other--was put into action. The confusing effect was instantaneous, and the consequences decisive. Those who could understand each other would soon collect together, apart from the rest. Every onc would separate from those who were incomprehensible by him. The awful change would be felt to be a production of Divine power; and being accompanied by a declaration of the great purpose for which it was inflicted, the wiser individuals would soon concur in the counsels of their better judgment, indeed of obvious common sense, and would recommend an immediate obedience to the requisition of that Omnipotence which it was absurdity to oppose.

The mode of execution was easy, by all who were intelligible to each other, separating from those who were not so, and by these uniting into little societies who found they could harmonize together. As the combining sections would severally live most peaceably and comfortably by themselves, and therefore in a different locality from others, migrations of this sort would be resolved upon, and suitable stations would be selected, either according to such Divine suggestions as should be com

The

municated, or according to such natural agencies and circumstances as would then be operating to similar results. Divine purpose was thus accomplished, of causing them to settle in different colonizations.-TURNER'S 'Sacred History.'

WHEN first America was discovered, the Spaniards were regarded by the Indians as divinities, and perhaps there was nothing which tended to give them this distinction more than their possessing weapons which, resembling the lightning and the thunder of heaven, sent death among them in a manner which they could not avoid or comprehend; and although the Christians are no longer considered as divine, yet the Indians are so little accustomed to, or understand the nature of, fire-arms, that it is natural to suppose the danger of these weapons is greater in their minds than the reality. Accustomed to war among themselves with the lance, it is a danger also that they have not been taught to encounter; for it is well known that men can learn to meet danger, and that they become familiar with its face, when, if the mask be changed, and it appear with unusual features, they again view it with terror. But even supposing that the Indians have no superstitious fear of fire-arms, but merely consider their positive effects, is it not natural that they should fear them? In Europe, or in England, what will people with sticks in their hands do against men who have fire-arms? Why, exactly what the naked Indians have been accused of doing-run away; and who would not run away?

But the life which the Indian leads cannot but satisfy any unprejudiced person that he must necessarily possess high courage. His profession is war, his food is simple, and his body is in that state of health and vigour, that he can rise naked from the plain on which he has slept, and proudly look upon his image, which the white frost has marked out upon the grass, without inconvenience. What can we 66 men in buckram " say to this?

The life of such a people must certainly be very interesting; and I always regretted very much that I had not time to throw off my clothes and pay a visit to some of the tribes, which I should otherwise certainly have done; as, with proper precautions, there would have been little to fear; for it would have been curious to have observed the young sporting about the plains