also noticed he had left his marks on almost every page. I asked to see his mathematical works. He sprang into his study and produced me Greenleaf's Arithmetic, Perkins's Algebra, Playfair's Euclid, Pike's Arithmetic, Davies's Algebra, Hutton's Mathematics, Flint's Surveying, the Cambridge Mathematics, Gummere's Astronomy, and several nautical almanacs. I asked him if he had mastered them all. He replied that he had. And an examination of him, for the space of three hours, convinced me that he had, and not only so, but that he had far outstripped them. His knowledge is not intuitive. He is a pure and profound reasoner." From Chambers' Edinburgh Journal. RISING AND SINKING OF LAND IN NORTHERN EUROPE. have given a very different account of the relative, not answer instantly. I saw the volumes, and working of his mind and body. They deny any distortion of features, any clouding of the brow, any diminution of the cheerful brightness of his boyish eye. They tell us that he walks with a free step round the room, threading his way behind chairs, gliding into corners, and looking up at the questioner as he passes with a smile, apparently no more fatigued than a boy with his usual play. It would seem clear from this that if he is fore-doomed, it is not by nature, but by man. But the frail constitution, the delicate health, the small limbs, the brilliant eyes, the pallid countenance, are not necessarily indications of early death; and there are circumstances in the case before us which give every hope that, if the boy only receives fair play, he may live long enough to obtain a permanent place in the constellation of science, instead of passing away, as some anticipate, like the meteor of the moment. One of these circumstances is what appears to us to be the curious and interesting fact, that in him the intellectual does not require to draw upon the physical man for aid in extraordinary emergencies. In ordinary cases, when the feats, as in the present, are not performed by intuition, but are the result of previous study, the calculator or reasoner suspends, so far as he can, the exercise of those faculties that are applied to the uses of the body: he abstracts his senses from external objects, and appears either to exact from them some mysterious aid within, or at least to require a strict neutrality. With the Vermont boy, on the contrary, the external perceptions seem to quicken in the mental excite-only represent on the sudden what has in all time ment. The exercise of his body goes on at the same moment with the exercise of his mind; and if he is engaged in any ordinary employment at the time, instead of suspending it, he redoubles his energy. This affords a hope that in his case the mind may not be worked in any fatal disproportion. The value of that mind may be collected from the following statements by Mr. Adams, the gentleman who tested its powers so rigourously. "But young Safford's strength does not lie wholly in mathematics. He has a sort of mental absorption. His infant mind drinks in knowledge as a sponge does water. Chemistry, botany, philosophy, geography, and history are his sport, It does not make much difference what question you ask him, he answers very readily. I spoke to him of some of the recent discoveries in chemistry. He understood them. I spoke to him of the solidification of carbonic acid gas, by Professor Johnston of the Wesleyan University. He said he understood it. Here his eyes flashed fire, and he began to explain the process. "His memory, too, is very retentive. He has pored over Gregory's Dictionary of the Arts and Sciences so much, that I seriously doubt whether there can be a question asked him, drawn from either of those immense volumes, that he will In the temperate regions of the earth, we are so accustomed to associate the idea of perfect stability with the ground on which we tread, that we are prone to incredulity when told of upheavals of the land, which cannot be immediately referred to the action of volcanoes or earthquakes. And when travellers have witnessed one of the latter convulsions for the first time, their description of their sensations presents a singular mixture of bewilderment and alarm, jostling long-settled convictions. Startling, however, as may be the phenomena of earthquakes, the subsidence or elevation of hills, draining or formation of lakes, and diversion of rivers, they been effected by the slow and silent, though not less sure, operations of nature in various parts of the world. That such changes have taken place in past ages, many persons are willing to believe; but they incline to doubt the existence of similar movements in the present period. They have heard or read of beds of marine shells being found at elevations and places far remote from the sea, or of ancient vessels dug up far below the soil; but these things have been conveniently referred to the Deluge, or some sudden inundation, under the impression that since those events no farther commotion has happened. But the observations of scientific men testify to the alterations continually going on over large portions of the earth's surface, not less remarkable than those due to the violence of earthquakes. Mr. Lyell was the first to make these phenomena popularly known in this country, in his "Principles of Geology," a work which we are greatly pleased to see republished in a seventh edition, abounding as it does with sound and comprehensive views likely to do good service to the cause of geological science. This writer directed attention to the gradual elevation of the land in Sweden and adjacent portions of the north of Europe; and a summary of his observations, as amplified in the new edition, will serve to convey an idea of what is known of this interesting phenomenon. the early astronomers, who were deceived by apparent motions of the stars, so these writers, and Celsius himself, were deceived by the apparent subsidence of the sea. The speculations gave rise to a controversy, in which it was argued that as there was no proof of a rising of the ocean in other regions, there could be no sinking in the north. Playfair suggested that the appearances were due rather to an elevation of the land -an opinion confirmed by Von Buch, who, after exploring Sweden in 1807, expressed his conviction that the whole country, from Frederickshall, in Norway, to Abo in Finland, and perhaps as far as St. Petersburg, was slowly and insensibly rising." This declaration from so eminent an authority led to a more critical examination of the subject. Marks had been chiselled in the rocks on various parts of the Baltic shores, to serve as an index of the water level. These were inspected by a commission in 1820-21, and a report was presented to the Royal Academy of Stockholm, in which the subsidence of the water, subsequently to the incision of the marks, was clearly demonstrated ; at the same time new marks were made. We may premise that instances of upheaval and submergence are more general than is commonly supposed. Many changes of level are to be traced in the valley of the Rhine. In Sicily, shells, identical with those now existing in the Mediterranean, are found at a height of three thousand feet above the sea level. Calabria presents similar appearances. The latter country, it is thought, is slowly rising-a point not yet determined, owing to the comparatively short period during which observations have been made. In the bay of Baiae, fish are now caught on certain parts of the coast, which, in 1807, were dry land; the depression goes on at the rate of one inch in four years. Places on the coast of Asia Minor are slowly increasing their distance from the sea; and according to Van Hoff, a German writer, the island of Tahiti gains in height every year. Mr. Darwin has shown that the bed of the Pacific Ocean has undergone frequent upheavals and depressions, the coral reefs being sometimes elevated into mountain ranges, at others sunk fathoms below the level at which they were formed. In 1822, a portion In 1834, Mr. Lyell set out for Sweden, to conof the South American continent, equal in extent vince himself, by actual observation, of the truth to the British isles, was raised; and similar or falsehood of the theory advanced. He first movements are still going on. To turn to our visited the famous castle of Calmar; the bases own country. The town of Brighton once stood, of two projecting towers were once washed by where the chain pier is now built, on a beach the sea, but now they are above the sea level, which the sea had abandoned for ages. In Shet- having risen four feet in as many centuries. He land and Cornwall great changes have occurred also examined the marks cut by direction of the within the memory of man. Evidences of up-commissioners in 1820-21, and found them in heaval are apparent on some parts bordering the estuary of the Clyde. In the Isle of Arran a circle of inland cliffs is distinctly visible. A large portion of Lincolnshire was once covered by the sea, where cattle now graze; while on the opposite coast of Yorkshire, towns which were busy ports in the fourteenth century, are now covered by the waves. At one part of the Norfolk shore there is a depth of water sufficient to float a frigate, where, fifty years ago, stood a cliff fifty feet in height. Many other facts might be adduced, were more required, to prove the existence of constant change. The results may appear small, when compared with the agencies at work, and the long ages required to produce them; yet when looked at as the means by which nature provides for the duration of her empire, we shall find reason to estimate them at their full value. all cases from four to five inches above the sur- Notwithstanding About the beginning of last century, Celsius, a celebrated Swedish naturalist, gave it as his opinion, that the waters of the North and Baltic seas were slowly subsiding, the decrease amounting to nearly four feet in one hundred years. The fact he showed had been noticed by ancient writers, according to whom Scandinavia was formerly an island, but towards the ninth century had become part of the continent by the retreat-time are converted into islands. ing of the waters. In common, however, with goes on, the hollows between dry up, and become pastures surrounded by fir-clad cliffs. Instances | and from time to time led to deep reflection and of this transformation have occurred, within the secret conflict; the witness for truth left me not, memory of living witnesses, both on the eastern and as little sacrifices, such as declining gay and western coasts of Sweden. With regard to parties, seemed to yield a peaceful calm, I was this change, Mr. Lyell observes, "My attention favoured with resolution to persevere.' ." She was frequently called to low pastures from one also says "I was at times, and many times in to three miles inland, where the old inhabitants earlier life, very thoughtful as to the genuine or their fathers remembered that boats and ships effect of religion on the mind; my constitution had sailed. The traveller would not have sus- was weak, which I have considered a favour, pected such recent conversions of sea into terra (amongst others,) as my nature was volatile, and firma; there are few regions where a valley I was much left as to outward restraints." She newly gained from the sea may so rapidly assume gradually became increasingly serious, but for an air of considerable antiquity. Every small several years made little alteration in her manisland and rock off this coast is covered with ners or personal appearance. wood; and it only requires that the intervening channels and fiords should dry up, and become overspread with green turf, for the country to wear at once an inland aspect, with open glades and plains surrounded by well wooded heights." (To be continued.) A TESTIMONY In 1776 she went to France, on account of the precarious state of her health, and that she might be qualified by education to obtain for herself, if needful, a respectable maintenance. Whilst there she was much exposed to dissipating company, but appears to have been remarkably preserved: soon after her return an obvious change took place in her religious views, and she remarks: "In process of time I could not conform to what I had been taught as being necessary to salvation; I kept much retired without attending any place of worship, or having at view to any, although I think I had been at a Friends' meeting for worship at Birmingham, but do not call to mind any particular impression, saving a tenderness of spirit, I think to tears.' It appears, however, from a manuscript journal kept by our dear friend, that whilst making a short stay in London, on her way to France, she was introduced to several members of our So formation relative to our principles, and in whose company she attended a meeting for worship in Gracechurch street. She resided for some time with her brother, who was a minister of the episcopal establishment: whilst under his roof, she was brought into very close exercise of mind respecting taking what is termed the sacrament, which she says "was administered by my brother with much solemnity;" but she adds, "The best of teachers was pleased to calm and quiet my mind on a subject so important, that I no more repeated the ceremony." Of Warwickshire North Monthly Meeting concerning MARY CAPPER, deceased. Our late dear and valued friend Mary Capper was born in 1755, at Rugely, Staffordshire. In a letter written to a relation in 1835, from which most of the subsequent extracts have been taken, she commemorates the Divine grace by which she was preserved throughout the course of a long life, in the following striking language: "In the present day it seems as if all was swallowed up in mercy, and in the marvellous watchful care, which kept me in the days of my ignor-ciety, from whom she received considerable inance from wandering far in the broad way, and has brought me hitherto, through a wilderness of pits and snares, and above all has settled my heart in a calm, peaceful, lowly state, no more tossed with floating opinions, but watching, waiting, and praying yet to be perfected and fitted for the kingdom of Heaven." Her parents were members of the national establishment, and brought her up in the strict observance of its rites and ceremonies: she says "my dear and valued parents accustomed their children to read the Scriptures, my beloved mother especially, to whom I often read and asked questions relative to some passages when I was about eight or ten years old." Whilst quite young she spent a considerable time at Macclesfield, under the care of an aunt, where she was allowed to accompany her young companions to the theatre, and other public places of amusement, nor was she at that time sensible of the evil tendency of such practices. The first impression of a contrary nature distinctly remembered appears to have been during a residence at Birmingham, which she says, was whilst on my knees at my accustomed evening prayers: my thoughts being confused and dissipated, I lay down comfortless, believing that whatever distracted and hindered prayer must be wrong; this impression rested with me, 66 About the year 1784 she went to reside with one of her brothers in London, and became a regular attender of our religious meetings. She says, "On my decidedly going to Friends' meetings, my dear father, no doubt in faithfulness to his own religious views, and the desire to rescue a poor child from apprehended error, desired not my return to the parental roof unless I could be satisfied with the religious education he had conscientiously given me; this, with a tender heart-piercing remonstrance from my dear mother, was far more deeply felt than I can describe, and marvellous in my view, even to this day, was the settled firm belief, that I must follow on to know the soul's salvation for myself truly in a way that I knew not." Mary Capper was settled within the compass | time would make known all that was needful for of Peel Monthly Meeting, and was admitted into their salvation, if they were faithful to that which membership by that meeting about the year was already manifested to them, and stating her 1788. Whilst residing in London she believed belief that such would never be suffered to perish herself called upon to express a few words in for lack of knowledge. Our dear friend was very our meetings for worship, which she thus de- exemplary in the attendance of our meetings for scribes. "I have no distinct recollection as to worship and discipline, even in the latter part of any serious thoughts of speaking in a religious her life, when her bodily powers were much meeting; it sometimes arose in my view, that weakened. She felt a lively interest in the possibly I might have to tell unto others how I spiritual and temporal welfare of her friends, had been taught and kept from the broad way of was ever ready to afford advice or assistance to destruction, but a few words arising in my mind those who stood in need of it, and with very with something of unusual power, I think at the limited means was an example of contentment, Peel meeting, I stood up and spoke them, and and liberality to the poor. Her correspondence, was very quiet, nor did I anticipate or foresee until within a few years of her death, was exthat such a thing might ever be again, and thus tensive, and many of her letters were addressed was I led on from time to time, not knowing but to those who were in affliction, or who she each time might be the last." Our dear friend thought in some way needed her affectionate reremoved to Birmingham in 1789, and in 1794 membrance or sympathy; and for usefulness in she was recommended to the Meeting of Minis- this way she appeared peculiarly qualified. ters and Elders; in reference to which, she remarks, “I know not that I ever questioned the propriety of such a step, yet really so simple, so like a childlike learner to this day, I know not that I can claim the awfully important character of a gospel minister." Her travels in the work of the ministry were a good deal confined to her own and the neighbouring quarterly meetings; in many of her religious visits she united with her friend, Mary Beesley, of Worcester; in addition to several journeys nearer home, they visited, in 1798, Friends of Bristol and Somersetshire, and in 1800 they united in a visit to the meetings and families of Friends in Oxfordshire. In 1803 she was liberated to unite with the same friend, then Mary Lewis, in a visit to Hamp-vation." shire, Somersetshire, and Devonshire. In 1811 Mary Capper removed to Leominster, and was recommended from thence back to Birmingham in 1816, where she resided until her death. In 1823 she was liberated for service in and about London, and in 1826 she visited the meetings and families of Friends in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and part of Leicestershire, which appears to have been her last engagement of this nature away from home. The natural cheerfulness of her disposition, and her uniform kindness and courtesy, endeared her to all who were acquainted with her, and rendered her society both pleasant and instructive. She was firmly attached to the principles of our religious Society, believing them to be in full accordance with the New Testament, but largely cherished Christian love and charity to all those who conscientiously differed from her. In a letter written to a friend in the 80th year of her age, she says, "I am bound in gratitude to acknowledge the gentle hand of mercy which has guided me hitherto and joined me in strong af fection to the Society, and satisfied my seeking mind as to the genuine gospel principles of sal In a memorandum made about the same time, after referring to the earlier part of her Christian experience, she proceeds: "The sinfulness of sin in all its subtleties is not discovered all at once, neither is the efficacy of Divine grace manifested in its fulness, but as we can bear it, obedience keeping pace in deep abasement and humiliation with the Spirit revealed,-God the Father revealing the Son in us, the Light, the Life, the Way, wherein we come to a view, though yet faint and imperfect, of the atoning sacrifice for sin, with the new and living way cast up for the redeemed to walk in, and whereby we have access to a reconciled God and universal Father. My simple, yet reverent testimony is to the love, the marvellous love of God, as the guide of our youth, and the staff of lengthened years to those who acknowledge Him in all their ways." Her ministry was sound and of a spiritual character; having herself largely partaken of the conflict between flesh and spirit, she was often concerned to encourage the sincere-hearted patiently to submit to these proving seasons, looking for effectual help to the light and power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and frequently, whilst suffering from a sense of the low state of things amongst us, as a religious society, she looked Our dear friend was at meeting on the mornforward with encouragement and hope towards ing of the first-day previous to her decease, a brighter period. She was accustomed, both in and was enabled to address her friends in enher ministry and in her conversation, to express couraging language, and spoke particularly to the the great objection she felt to a disputatious spirit, dear children. The day following she was so particularly when exercised in matters relating unwell that it was thought desirable to send for to doctrine, recommending her young friends, her medical attendant, and on fourth-day mornwho were anxiously inquiring after truth, to waiting, being hardly aware that her weakness for the unfoldings of Divine light, which in due rendered it impracticable, she wished to be dressed that she might go to meeting, remarking that many friends were absent attending the yearly meeting, and she wished to assemble with those who remained. To a friend who called upon her after meeting she said, she hoped she should not be cast off in her old age; the friend replied, she believed she would not, that she had done her work in the day. "Ah!" she remarked, addressing herself to those about her, "you will feel a comfort in such a day as this, that you have been engaged in His service." On fifth-day she became much worse, several friends called to see her, with whom she conversed very cheerfully, and although she did not appear aware that she should see them no more, she parted from them very affectionately. Previous to settling for the night, she said to her attendant, "I think thou hast not read to me in the Bible to-day," and expressed a wish to hear a portion of it; the chapter in course was the 14th of John, beginning "Let not your heart be troubled," | which seemed very consoling to her: as the reading proceeded she responded to it, and spoke of the boundless goodness, mercy, and power of God, saying, "how beautiful to go to a mansion ready prepared for us, and if such should be my happy experience it will indeed be all of mercy, unmerited mercy." She appeared to be much engaged in prayer during the night. In the morning her bodily powers were evidently fast failing; after this she spoke but little, and about eleven o'clock in the forenoon her purified spirit gently passed away, exchanging, we doubt not, through the mercy and mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, an earthly for a heavenly habitation. She died on the 23d of the 5th month, 1845, in the 91st year of her age, a minister about 55 years. For Friends' Review. THE LETHEON. In perusing the article in the last number of the Review, on the inhalation of sulphuric ether as a means of producing insensibility, and preventing pain in operations, the writer has been led to fear that the views there given may lead some, who have not examined the subject, to suppose that it is a remedy that may be employed with as little consideration and with as little risk as a dose of any of our more powerful medicines. Although agreeing with "M," that the effects of the ether are of the most surprising character, and that its use in a very large number of cases, in different parts of the world, has revealed a much smaller number of fatal or even disagreeable accidents than could have been anticipated; still there is another side to the question, which should not be passed over carelessly by those who are disposed to be fully informed on the subject. What are the symptoms produced by the inhalation of ether? "The circulation at first becomes rapid, then slow and feeble; the respiration bearing a due relation to the frequency of the pulse, becomes laboured and stertorous; the countenance is livid; the lips and tongue are blue; the pupils are dilated; the muscles universally relaxed; the functions of the brain and nervous system are suspended; sensation is annihilated, and the patient, to all intents and purposes, for the time being, is a senseless corpse." (Ed. Med. and Surg. Jour., July 1847.) So much for the full influence of the remedy; and although patients do constantly recover from this state without any ultimate bad effects, still, it can scarcely be credited but that this rather alarming train of symptoms must frequently be attended with unpleasant results. It has been compared, by authors, to the state of insensibility produced by intoxication, (being "dead drunk, as it is vulgarly called), to asphyxia or congestive apoplexy; and certainly none of these conditions are ever devoid of danger. Do bad effects really result from the inhalation of this remedy? The Editor of the Monthly Journal of the Medical Sciences, for April, 1847, says they do, and that "many of them will be found related by Prof. Syme and Dr. Roberts, in our report of the meeting of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh. Great excitement, cough, with expectoration of pus, hemoptysis and convulsions, have been witnessed, during the inhalation, by ourselves. In some cases, erotic feelings, and even nymphomania have been occasioned in females; in others, hysterical symptoms, or those of depression or intense headache, which have continued for several days. In our last number, we noticed the occasional occurrence of alarming sinking, which required vigourous measures to restore the individual. In some cases, the individuals have been thrown into such a state of agitation as to render the performance of the operation impossible." A case related in the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, illustrates some of the distressing results which may follow the inhalation of ether. The experimenter was a medical gentleman who wished to have a tooth extracted, and after inhaling the vapour for some minutes without apparent effect, "thrust the apparatus suddenly from him, and exclaimed, that he could bear it no longer, staggered about the room, and was assisted to a chair. His breathing became very difficult, his arms were stretched out, his fingers extended, and he was perfectly catalep tic." The operator would then have proceeded, but the breathing of the patient was so laborious, and the resistance so great," that it would have been almost impossible to perform that or any other operation." "Each expiration was accompanied by a loud Hah! his eyelids were closed; his head was hot; pupils not altered; conjunctiva much infected, pulse 120, and his appearance altogether was so distressing as to |