for naught," in trying to accomplish that which is impossible, and which, if it were possible, would be hurtful, not beneficial. On another account we cannot but regret this, both on the writer's account and that of those whom he may influence. The present writer believes that Mr. Romanes has done good service in showing the treacherous nature of the ground on which mere Theism, rejecting Christianity, must take its stand;-how the apparently solid surface may at any time give way or expose the quagmire of Materialism and Atheism beneath. It is true that man has his intuitions of the Divine,-that even with this internal revelation alone, he ought to rise from "the things that are made" to the conception of "His eternal power and Godhead." But alas! ought is not is! The "foolish heart is darkened" by sin, and the mind which has bound itself down to the things of sense readily loses this intuition, and the power of rising to such a conception. And thus we find intelligent and accomplished physicists, on the ground of their limited human knowledge, quietly assuming the impossibility of anything supernatural, or rather beyond the range of human experience, and dogmatically asserting that God and immortality are a dream. since they can find no physical proof nor logical demonstration for either. It is not easy to see how a vague and shadowy theism is to hold its ground against the bold and dogmatic atheism of positive science. But we do not believe, on this account, that the light of faith which has guided men for so many ages, is to be quenched in the darkness which ultimately enshrouds positive knowledge; but that, rather, in accordance with the great law of progress or evolution, it shall grow stronger and stronger unto the perfect day, till the star which was first seen in the east has actually lighted the whole world. We do not believe that in these latter days we are to be left with only vague

thoughts of God as "the One, the Highest, the Best, the Eternal." We require some surer standing ground, some stronger constraining force, whether for hope or comfort, or for "the purifying of every thought and purpose," and "the ordering of the life in harmony with the great eternal realities of Reason and Love.' And this we find in the Christian Revelation, with all that it involves, and in the direct contact with the Divine which we have in Revelation and in the exercise of prayer. In these ways the human heart can reach out into the darkness and touch the Divine, as it never can do through the mere intellect and reason, which cannot "by searching find out God." External nature may refuse to show even a trace of His spiritual presence ;-it may itself at times appear a dream, and so sometimes may even our own existence. But "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him," and no humble, praying Christian will ever be left to wander in darkness, but shall always be able to record his testimony that the promises of Revelation are all "yea and amen in Christ Jesus." It is "the pure in heart who shall see God," just as it is they who will do His will who "shall know of the doctrine." But we need to be made pure in heart, and we need to seek to know His will in regard to prayer as to other things. This we believe we find in Revelation; and it is they who have most faithfully followed that will, as they find it there, to whom God is most real and true, -not merely an "Unseen Power," or the "Highest, Best, and Eternal," but the loving Father and faithful Guide ;-" the God which led them all their life long, the Angel which redeemed them from all evil,"—the Lord who "lifts up the light of His countenance upon them and gives them peace." "Thrice blest whose lives are faithful prayers, Whose loves in higher love endure; What souls possess themselves so pure, Or is there blessedness like theirs ?"

ΤΗ

HE winters of Newfoundland are not by many degrees so cold as in the neighbouring British Provinces. It is an admitted fact that the climate of Newfoundland has gradually undergone a change within the last forty years, and is now much warmer than it was then. This change may in part be attributed to the improvement in agriculture, the draining of marshes, the clearing of the forests, and perhaps a more northerly direction of the Gulf stream. Most writers affirm that the northern parts of Europe have become much warmer than they were a few centuries ago. St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland, is in 47° 33' north latitude; London, 51° 30'; Dublin, 53° 20'; and Edinburgh, in 55° 53'. Thus St. John's is nearer the equator than any of the abovementioned places; and yet, instead of being warmer, is much colder than Great Britain. To account for this, the great astronomer, Dr. Halley, supposed that a comet had formerly struck the earth obliquely, and changed the position of its axis of rotation. As a consequence, the North Pole, which had been originally very near to Hudson's Bay, was changed to a more easterly position; but the countries which it abandoned had been so long and so deeply frozen, that vestiges still remained of its ancient polar rigour, and that a long series of years would be required for the solar action to impart to the northern parts of the new continent the climate of their present geographical position. But this, of course, is mere theory, and not to be depended on. Sir Charles Lyell, however, in his work on "The Antiquity of Man," adopted something of Halley's theory about the ancient frozen condition of the northerly portions of the globe, in the glacial era, following in the footsteps of Professor Agassiz, of Harvard University. In Newfoundland, January and February are the coldest months of the year, when the thermometer sometimes sinks below zero; but at the coldest times not more than 10 degrees below it, and then only for a few hours; while in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick the thermometer sometimes falls

Wednesday, Feb. 17th, 9 a.m. Halifax, N. S., ther. 11, wind N.N.W., clear. Calais, Me., ther. zero, wind N. W. St. John, N. B., wind N. W., clear, ther. zero, at 7 a. m.

Sackville, N. B., ther. 2 below zero, clear, wind N. W.

St. John's, N.F., ther. 31, cloudy, wind S.W. Port-aux-Basque, N. F., wind W., overcast, ther. 29.

Yarmouth, N. S., wind N. W., ther. 8.

one or two miles of the shore. Many persons suppose that a severe winter necessarily produces a greater quantity of fog the succeeding summer, and that the more ice produced, the more fog. The production of fog entirely depends on the difference of temperature. There is abundance of fog where no ice at all is found. The coasts of South America, Great Britain, and France, surrounded by a warm sea, are subject to thick fogs, that prevail extensively in the winter. Fogs originate in the same causes as rain, viz., the union of a cool body of air with one that is warm and humid; when the precipitation of moisture is slight, fogs are produced; when it is copious, rains are the result. What are called the Banks of Newfoundland are immense shoals, situate from one hundred to two hundred miles eastward of the shores of Newfoundland. Mists of great extent shroud the sea on these banks, and particularly near the current of the Gulf Stream. The difference in the warmth of the waters of the stream, the ocean, and the banks, fully explains the phenomenon. This current, frowing from the equatorial regions, possesses a temperature 52° Fah. above that of the adjacent ocean, and the waters of the latter are from 16° to 18° warmer than those of the banks. The difference in temperature between the waters of the stream and those of the banks is said to have risen as high as 30°

The air incumbent upon the land and water partakes of their respective temperatures, and on account of the ceaseless agitations of the atmosphere, a union of the warm air of the ground with the cool air of the ocean will necessarily occur, giving rise to the summer fogs.

The Right Rev. J. T. Mullock, R. C. Bishop of Newfoundland, says: "We have all the advantage of an insular climate, a mild temperature, with its disadvantage, uncertain weather. I may remark, likewise, what Abbé Raynal recorded already, that the climate of Newfoundland is considered the most invigorating and salubrious in the world, and that we have no indigenous disease." Again, the Bishop says: "What an awful climate,' they will say, 'you have in Newfoundland ; how can you live there with the sun in a continual fog?' 'Have you been there?' you ask them. No,' they say; but we have crossed the Banks of Newfoundland.' How surprised they are

6

then when you tell them that for ten months at least in the year all the fog and damp of the banks goes over to their side, and descends in rain there with the south-westerly winds, while we never have the benefit of it unless when what we call the out winds blow. In fact, the geography of America is very little known, even by intelligent writers, at home, and the mistakes made in our leading periodicals are frequently very amusing. I received a letter from a most intelligent friend of mine some time since, in which he speaks of the hyperborean region of Newfoundland. In my reply, I dated my letter from St. John's, N. lat. 47° 30', and I directed it to Mr. So-and-So., N. lat. 52°."

One of the coldest winters ever experienced in Newfoundland was in 1818, during which the thermometer is said to have sunk for a few hours to from 18 to 22 degrees below zero. The field ice which hovers around the eastern and northern coasts of Newfoundland during the months of March and April, and sometimes May, retards the progress of spring, and it is very probable that the chilling effects of the ice on vegetation would be felt much more were it not for the warm current from the Gulf of Mexico which passes along towards the Grand Banks. Thunder and lightning sometimes occur in the northern parts of Newfoundland, but seldom in the eastern and southern parts. I have lived years on Conception Bay without witnessing either. believe not more than two or three instances are known of persons having been killed by lightning. Newfoundland is admitted by all who have ever resided there to be the healthiest country in the world; not a fever of any kind is generated in the country, and that fatal disease, consumption, so common on the American continent, is hardly known there. Looming, rainbows, meteors; and other atmospheric phenomena are common; and almost every winter evening is brilliantly illuminated by the "rosy fingers" of the Aurora Borealis. Meteoric stones have been seen falling on the coast of Newfoundland. Some years ago a body of fire was seen to fall into the sea, equalling in diameter four times that of the moon. The tides do not rise or fall more than seven or eight feet on any part of the coast. Newfoundland is behind the age in not having a Meteorological Society.

TH

HE "glorious" Fourth of July, 1876, dawned bright and cloudless; booming of cannon, welcoming the auspicious anniversary, wakened from slumber the inhabitants of the little town of Jacksboro', Texas, as well as those of the adjacent military fort. No more sleep for America, old or "young," when once alive to the fact that the Fourth is really upon them, awakening memories of the military prowess displayed in the early days when the country achieved its independence. Not many are the Yankee youths who would answer, when interrogated as to the reason for fourth of July enthusiasm, as did a seven-year-old, in the fort, on the morning alluded to: "Oh, I don't know; because some President died then." His little hands, and head too, were full of fire-crackers, and, enjoying present happiness, he preferred leaving the consideration of remote causes for it to his elders.

The salute of thirteen guns, reminiscence of the thirteen original States, is over; the troops have been paraded under arms and in full uniform, and are now at liberty to enjoy themselves as individual fancy dictates. We, a Canadian family temporarily resident here, joined by some congenial friends, sought relaxation and pleasure in participating in the amusements of the day, provided by the sons and daughters, native and adopted, of the State of Texas.

A drive of a mile through what might be called a native park of musquite shrubs (for they are so stunted that the word "trees would seem a misnomer) conveyed the party from the fort to the pic-nic grounds. There were assembled between five and six hundred people-men, women, and children. Many of the last, if they live to be old men and women, will look upon a very different country from the one on which their parents' eyes now rest, and, attending celebrations of the "Fourth" sixty years from now, will, it is to be hoped, miss some noticeable features of the "Barbecue" of the present day.

It was at first rather startling to notice the

warlike appearance of the gentlemen in charge of the entertainment. True, benignity beamed from their faces, and to us strangers they hospitably extended many courtesies; but the fact remained, too suggestive to be forgotten, that the marshal's waist was encircled by a cartridge belt, scarcely concealed by his red sash, while, fully displayed, he wore a bowie-knife and huge revolver. This constant assurance of force in reserve may have had its effect in securing the order and quietness which reigned throughout the day. The proceedings began with prayer. Το this succeeded an "Ode to Freedom," which was in common metre, and was sung to old "Arlington." There was but little harmony. The quavering voices gave forth those uncertain sounds which, to a cultivated musician, are the worst of torture; but old men and youths, grandmothers and maidens, lifted up their voices with one accord, and with a heartiness which could not fail to strike a sympathetic chord in the breast of the thoughtful listener. There was pathos, too, in the song of these pioneers rejoicing in Liberty, which for them means hard work, and at best a moderately comfortable subsistence, with homes. only lately safe from savage depredation and cruelty. "Yankee Doodle's" enlivening strains having then been played by the band from the fort, the Declaration of Independence was read and the orator of the day began. Unfortunately, no sentence of his oration reached our ears, except some closing words to the effect that "what our forefathers swore by Jehovah would be, had come to pass, and would ever continue to be."

Being thus unable to satisfy our mental appetites with the intellectual feast provided for them, the audience naturally claimed our attention. Women being as yet comparatively scarce in this community, much rivalry was exhibited among the stalwart rangers in attentions to the fair sex. On this occasion the rustic belles were out in great force, looking their best, and constituting, as orator number two expressed it,