small leaves, which fill the office of an involucre. In the figure a, there is only one flower-stalk or peduncle represented above the involucre, which is sometimes the case. Flowers small and yellow. Fruit large and pyramidal. Stamens united at the base. This plant, though rare in this country, is found scattered over various quarters of the world; in the islands of Teneriffe, Isle of France, Japan, Caribbees, Mexico, &c. Oxalis Acetosella, wood-sorrel.-This plant grows very commonly in all our woods and thickets. The leaves may be found, in winter, sheltered beneath the protection of stumps and withered leaves; the flowers appear betimes in the spring, and late in summer; the capsules are found darting forth their little shining seeds on the slightest touch, by means of the arillus, or little elastic case before described. It is customary to speak of this plant as having no stem, which, in our judgment, is not cor followers of Pythagoras. We might call the practice of tracing the predominance of certain numbers, the arithmetic of botany. The seeds f, in each cell of the capsule, are few in number, and are attached to the inner angle of the cell, or at the seam of our imaginary leaf. When young, they are enclosed within a fleshy coat, called an arillus, e, which, opening at a chink, and contracting through the influence of heat, jerks the seed to a considerable distance. The contraction of this lodgment has a tendency to squeeze out the seed, but this tendency is checked by the edges of the orifice, which is a little too small to let it pass freely, till a slight shake affects it, when the hinderance is suddenly overcome, and the confined seed expelled with force, that it may sow itself at a convenient interval from the parent herb. With what apparent ease doth Divine wisdom bring about its ends! The mode in which a grain of wheat, or a pea, is urged to a dis-rect, for the little red leafy string, b, tance, by pressing it between the thumb and finger, is not more simple than the process here described. A little shrub growing upon the pines or firs of California, fires a volley of seeds in the face of the collector, by a similar contrivance, only, instead of the arillus or peculiar coat, it has a berry. When in that country, the writer took some pains to ascertain the nature of the mechanism by which it was effected, and intends giving a more particular account of it when he treats of the missleto and its related plants. EXAMPLES. Oxalis.-Calyx five divisions, either free or united at the base, as in the English species. Petals five, either free or slightly united at their base or claw. Stamens ten, filaments united a short distance from the base, under which condition, they are said to be monadelphous, or forming one brotherhood. Oxalis Corniculata, yellow flowered wood-sorrel, a. Berkenhout has the credit of having first introduced this plant to the notice of botanists, to whom it had been communicated by Mr. Turner, who found it near Exeter. It has since been gathered near Cuckfield, in Sussex, and in Scotland, near Stirling, by Dr. Buchanan. Root fibrous. Stems small, spreading widely on the ground, and often taking root; round, reddish-coloured, and downy. Leaves alternate, often nearly opposite, diIvided into three leaflets, which are commonly heart-shaped, and downy. Flowerstalks axillary, or proceeding from the bosom of the leaves; erect, bearing an umbel of a few declining flowers with a pair of In now lying before us, is evidently a stem, SUNSHINE. WHEN I look at the sun, and call to mind that it is a million of times the size of the earth, and ninety-five millions of miles from us, it so oppresses my brain with thoughts of infinity, that I am glad to turn off to something a little better suited to my weak understanding. It is no use grappling with conceptions beyond our power. My head can no more bear to reflect on the magnitude of the sun than mine eye can endure to gaze upon its brightest noon-day beams. I would willingly keep within compass, and say in reference to God's creation, as I would ever wish to say in regard to the hidden things of the Almighty, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me." But I was about to speak of sunshine. Oh how gloriously it arrays the heavens and the earth with brightness! The scenes are very beautiful that present themselves to the eye in spring, when the trees put forth their green leaves, and the birds warble the joy that they do not know how to keep to themselves. And not less so in summer, when the blossoms and flowers abound, and the woods are fully clothed. What can be more attractive than autumn, with its fruit and corn, and its trees with coloured leaves! And who is there that will deny that the bare branches of winter's oaks, and elms, and thorn bushes, when sprinkled with snow, or sparkling with hoar frost, are not lovely to look upon? and yet to each and to all of these what a wondrous additional beauty does sunshine give! Look at sunshine on the snowy cloud; the clear blue sky, the green meadow spotted with crocuses, the hay-field when the country people are at work there; the waving corn, while the reapers cut it and bind it into sheaves; the broad-breasted mountain, or the sharp-pointed crag. Or, look at it when glittering on the murmuring brook, the weather-cock of the village church, or the window panes of a cottage. Oh it is a glorious thing! but this is only the sunshine of the eye. The sun must be visible, or we cannot enjoy it. There is another sunshine, and I hope that you are no stranger to it. It is not confined to times and seasons, to the clearness of the atmosphere, and the state of the weather. It is not seen, but felt. It is known by all who humbly, and honestly, and diligently discharge their daily duties; by those who forgive their enemies; deal their bread to the hungry; bring the poor, that are cast out, to their houses; and clothe the naked. It is felt by the mother as she presses her smiling babe to her bosom, and commends it to God; by the father, when his children grow up in virtue, and remember their Creator in the days of their youth; and by the sunday-school teacher, when he sees the scholars improve that are committed to his charge. He who visits the fatherless and the widow in their affliction is sure to know it, and individuals and families feel it when they dwell in unity and affection. This is the sunshine of the heart, and they who delight to do good to others, who act justly, kindly, charitably, generously, nobly, will be sure to find its influence in their bosoms. You cannot take away trouble, nor give happiness to another, without feeling this sunshine. But there is yet another kind of sunshine, which is not dependent on the beams of the created sun, nor on the kindly affections of the human heart. A sunshine that comes direct from One far more glorious than the sun in his noon-day brightness. It is known when it pleases God to lift up the light of his countenance upon us. At times we feel it when reading the book of truth; the words come home to us, we see that the Lord is gracious, our souls magnify, and our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour. We feel it too in the hour of prayer and praise, when our heavenly Father is pleased to bear witness with our spirit, that our petition is heard, and our sacrifice of praise accepted. We know its influence when the messenger of grace to guilty men proclaims from the pulpit the glad tidings of salvation. We acknowledge its power when christian men, in christian institutions, make plain to us the goodness of the Lord in the conversion of the heathen world. This is the sunshine of the soul. It is felt by the penitent when a sense of forgiveness melts his heart, and sets his tongue at liberty; by the missionary, when he hears the idolater offer up his praise to the Saviour of sinners; and by the aged servant of God, when, ripe for the harvest of eternal glory, he breathes forth his spirit in the words, "Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." * The sunshine of the eye you have seen, the sunshine of the heart you have doubtless felt; but if you are yet a stranger to the sunshine of the soul, seek it with all diligence. The eye will become dim, the kindliest, the warmest affections of the heart will subside, their brightest sunshine will be overshadowed; but the sunshine of an immortal soul, a glorified spirit, will be eternal, according to the promise: "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." RELIANCE ON CHRIST. MIGHT I be permitted to advert to my own experience, I should say, that I have found nothing so salutary as to turn the mind immediately to the Saviour." Whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." To pray immediately to Christ, to cast ourselves incessantly upon His power and grace as revealed in the gospel, appears to be the best antidote to every despondency. I have no doubt that we are much wanting to ourselves in not having more direct dealings with the Saviour, or not addressing him now in the same spirit in which he was applied to for the relief of bodily diseases. He is exalted at the right hand of God, for the purpose of dispensing pardon, peace, and eternal life, to all that humbly seek his aid; and, wonderful condescension! he has declared, "he will in no wise cast out whosoever cometh unto him."-Robert Hall. The speech was made by the chief of the Griquas, (one of the Hottentot tribes,) named Waterboer, at a subscription dinner in Cape Town, to celebrate the event of the emancipation of the slaves belonging to the colony. It may be satisfactory to add, that the first THE STORY OF GUADALOUPE, OR THE of December, 1834, the day on which liberty VIRGIN MARY, BY THAT NAME. The following legend is firmly believed by many in Mexico, where the people have been kept in papal darkness. As a peasant, called Juan Jiego, was travelling near Mexico, he was met by the Virgin, who bade him go to the bishop of that city, and signify to him her wish that a church should be dedicated to her upon the very spot where she stood. The prelate, however, believing the tale to be a forgery, dismissed the messenger with very little ceremony. Some time afterwards, the man chanced to be passing by the same place, when the heavenly visitant again presented herself, and asked why her wishes had not been fulfilled. The poor man excused himself by saying that his story had found no credence. Upon this she gave him a roll of cloth, telling him if the bishop should still remain incredulous, to open the folds of this testimonial. He obeyed, and, in the presence of the unbelieving priest, unrolled the cloth, which, in the season of winter, disclosed a shower of full-blown roses. Our informant, who had seen the cloth, stated that there was nothing divine in its appearance, and that it is only worthy the ordinary skill of the meanest housewife. But though the coarse, homely, and, if we may use the term on such an occasion, the unheavenly appearance of this memorial, seemed to inform against the propa was proclaimed to the captive, passed withits vicinity, the only feeling expressed by out the slightest disturbance in the town or the emancipated slaves, being that of thankfulness "to his majesty the king of England, and all the honoured gentlemen of the parliament," for it is in these words that they expressed themselves. It is intended to erect, by subscription, a school room in Cape Town, to commemorate the day on which slavery became extinct in the colony of the Cape of Good Hope. L. "On his health being proposed by the chairman, "WATERBOER rose and returned thanks for the honour done him! He spoke in the Dutch language, and we have to express our deep regret that we can present to our readers only a mere sketch of a speech, which all who understood the singularly nervous, but highly figurative style in which he always expresses his thoughts when roused or excited, as he evidently was on this occasion, agree in describing as eloquent and impressive in the highest degree. "He began by saying, that he was unable to express the gratitude and joy he felt at the honour done to him in being invited to join such a company, on such an occasion; and the great satisfaction he experienced in his heart, at having been so pro videntially brought to this town at the moment when liberty was to triumph openly, and her triumph was to be openly celebrated. "He greatly rejoiced in the new spirit which he found gradually making ground against old prejudices, and the old, selfish, and oppressive state of things; and he considered it the greatest honour of his life to be one of the present company, whom he considered as the representatives of all those in the colony, who were the friends of freedom, and of justice, and of the improvement and happiness of their fellow-men, of all classes and colours. The spirit they manifested, was a spirit which he loved; a spirit which was rapidly diffusing itself in this colony; a spirit that carried with it the germ of improvement, and happiness, wherever it obtained. Formerly, he said, in this land we were covered with darkness, involved in a dark cloud. The English came. The missionaries went forth. The cloud began to melt and dissolve. The light shone upon us. But light alone will not give life. The heat, the genial warmth of benevolence and charity, and universal love, these revive, invigorate, cheer! Knowledge with goodness, with religion, makes men to live, and opens up all our nature to view! I foresee the diffusion, said he, of this living, this life-giving spirit of the English. It is a fire that cannot be confined amid the dry materials of the field or the forest. It will spread from sea to sea. It will reach to the ends of the earth. Men say that England is far to the west. But England, I say, is also far to the east. We are in the midst of England. We are every where surrounded by her sons. May her spirit be in us. May we be worthy of her name! My mouth is too small, my tongue is too small to express what I think on this subject; to speak my gratitude! Could I but convey what I feel in my heart, I would sit down happy. They had done him, he said, and all the chiefs of the frontier, whom he was proud to represent on that occasion, the honour to make mention of their names, and to wish them prosperity. He rejoiced to inform them, that, through the liberality and just policy of the British government, he and the other frontier chiefs were about to enter into a new relation ship with the colony. Mutual interests had indeed always secured mutual understanding; but now they were about to enter into an acknowledged and definite relation. And here he could not avoid making mention, and he did so with peculiar feelings of pleasure and gratitude, of the kind and fatherly manner in which he and his party had been treated since he came to Cape Town; but more especially was he grateful for the ready, and considerate, and honourable manner in which his excellency, the governor, had attended to the important objects which he had submitted to him, and had been pleased to grant all those means, and all that assistance, by which the peace and security of the frontier of this colony, and of the opposite district, would be preserved, and the welfare of his people, and of the adjacent tribes, promoted. These are new days. Great things are already effected, and the time is not far distant when the spirit and influence which have so long separated and degraded the different classes of men in this colony, and which is now struggling in vain for life, shall die, and be buried for ever! Providence has raised up men suited to the times; men, able to conduct the vast improvements now in progress; men, who, in order to save all classes of the colony, have devoted their all to the great work. May God give them success, and happiness to all!" During this address, of which the above gives but a faint outline, Waterboer was repeatedly interrupted by bursts of hearty applause and sympathy. His action, voice, and emphasis, were so well managed, that many who but imperfectly understood his words, were able fully to enter into his feelings, and to follow the course of his mind. He has for ever vindicated the much-traduced name of Hottentot. sat down amidst rapturous applause. PUBLIC WORSHIP. He If a man is grateful to his benefactor, he will tell him so; if no acknowledgments are made, and no outward signs of gratitude manifest themselves, he will be chargeable with ingratitude. But, if expressing our gratitude and praise from time to time in words, is, by the Deity, required of us as a duty; if it is beneficial to ourselves; and if, as an example, it has good effects on our fellow-men; no argument can be necessary to prove the propriety of the practice of public worship. -Dr. Beattie. JOHN DAVIS, 56, Paternoster Row, London. Priced. each, or in Monthly Parts, containing Five Numbers in a Cover, 3d. W. TYLER, Printer, Ivy Lane, St. Paul's. THE WATER-RAT. (Arvicola amphibia.) Of the smaller mammalia which are abundant in our island and on the adjacent continent, few are less known, as it respects their habits and manners, than the waterrat, (arvicola amphibia.) Indeed, this little animal is by most regarded as a variety of that destructive pest, which abounds in barns, stables, out-houses, and which multiplies even in our towns and cities, intruding into our dwellings, and undermining the walls and floors. The common rat (mus decamanus) often, it is true, takes up its abode along the sides of drains, &c., near houses in the country, but it is not aquatic in its habits, at least it seldom takes voluntarily to the water. From this voracious animal the water-rat is truly distinct, it belongs even to a separate genus, (arvicola. Lacep.) possessing decidedly differential characters. The water-rat is never found far from the water. It dwells in burrows made VOL. III. in the banks of rivers, ponds, ditches, &c These burrows are always of a considerable extent, and have generally two or more outlets. Their entrance is usually close to the water's edge, so that, during floods, it is often below the surface; as, however, the gallery rises while it proceeds, the snug little chamber to which it leads is seldom flooded. In this asylum the female brings forth and rears her young, having previously prepared a nest of fine grass and vegetable fibres. Nocturnal in its habits, it is only as evening closes in that the water-rat emerges from its retreat, to seek for food, and gambol on the grassy bank. Those who are accustomed "to trace the woods and lawns, and living streams, at eve," have often surprised the water-rat thus busied among the tangled herbage, or been themselves startled by the sudden plunge into the water, made by the animal scared at their approach. In stagnant marshy water, mantled over A A |