so much resembles some of the attributes of the Great Power which created us, that the mind, trembling under the immensity of the conceptions it engenders, is lost in feelings which human beings cannot impart to each other. In the hurricane which one meets with in southern latitudes, most of us have probably looked in vain for the waves that have been described as 'mountains high;' but though the outline has been exaggerated, is there not a terror in the filling in of the picture, which no human artist can delineate? And in the raging of the tempest, in the darkness which the lightning makes visible-Who is there among us that has not fancied he has caught a shadow of the wrath, and a momentary glimmering of the mercy, of the Almighty?" This language is far above that of Peter Parley, but it is very beautiful, and full of striking thoughts.

CHAP. III.

PARLEY GOES TO NAHANT. ABOUT FISHES AND OTHER CREATURES THAT INHABIT THE SEA. VARIOUS MATTERS AND THINGS.

I REMEMBER being at Nahant. This is on our coast of North America. The place is a rocky point of land, running out into the sea. While I was there, I walked along the shore. I was alone; and by and by I sat down upon the rocks, close to the water's edge, for the purpose of resting myself. The waves were in constant motion. Sometimes they retired from the rocks, and whirled about in gentle eddies, as if tired of their play; then again they rushed against the shore, foaming and thundering, as if they were very angry.

I sat looking at the water for some time. The sun was shining very bright, and I could perceive in the waves a thousand little fishes, sporting and darting about in all directions.

There were many thousands of them. But they soon passed by me, and others followed them. These again passed by, and other multitudes succeeded them. Thus they continued to pour along in a continued stream.

This led me to reflect upon the countless tribes of living things that inhabit the sea. I remembered to have seen, along the shores of Norway and Russia, the waters filled with little fishes like these I observed at Nahant. I had also seen in China, around the islands of the Pacific Ocean, on the north-west coast of America, and in all parts of the world which I had visited, the same busy throng gliding through the waters.

But now for a word about herrings. If I did not go rapidly from one subject to another, I should never finish the account that I have to give.

In regard to the herring, it may help, in some small degree, an estimate of the number of these fish that are eaten by men alone, to state a few

facts as to their consumption in Norway, where they form the principal food, and a large article of commerce. In the single bay of Ranoe, there are annually taken about eighty jagts. Now one hundred tons make a jagt, and each ton contains about twelve hundred herrings. It is said, that in one particular season, nineteen millions were taken in that bay. I do not wonder that you look surprised. In 1752, between January and October, one hundred and thirtytwo thousand one hundred and fifty-six tons of herrings were exported from the town of Bergen alone. But how little is all this to the general consumption of this fish among the human race; and this, again, to the consumption of the porpoises, or herring-hogs, and of so many other devourers of herrings, (birds, beasts, and fishes,) in the waters of the deep!

The sea, you find, is full of things worthy of

Speak of the multitudes of herrings.

our attention.

Plants of various kinds, some of

them very beautiful, and others exceedingly curious, grow upon some parts of the bottom. Fishes of various forms, besides crowds of insects and reptiles; some not larger than the point of a needle, others (I might almost say) as big as a small ship; some with scales, and some with shells; some innocent and peaceful, others fierce and quarrelsome; some beautiful for their graceful shapes and bright colours, others hideous. from their figures and ferocious aspect, these occupy the bosom of the great waters, and fill it with life and motion.

I could tell you a great many pleasing stories about these inhabitants of the deep. When we look out upon the water, and see nothing but its level surface, we must not imagine that there is nothing going on below. If we could look into the waves, we should see the sharks pursuing

What grows at the bottom of the sea?

Describe some of the various fishes that inhabit the sea.