The Bangkok Recorder.

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God is Everywhere.

Its head above the sod ;

In the chorus birds are singing,

And sending up to God.

In wild flowers sweetly growing

With lovely tints and hues;

Refresh’d by breezes blowing.—

By showers and pearly dews.

In the butterfly that’s dancing

Away its happy hour :

In the busy bee that’s winging

Its flight from flower to flower.

In the sun’s bright beams of glory,

And cheering golden rays :

In the frost and snow so hoary,

Of chilling winter days.

In the tow’ring lofty mountain,

And in the lowly vale:

In the pearly crystal fountain,

In wind, and storm, and hail.

In the thunder loudly crashing,

And in the startling gleam

Of the lightning’s vivid flashing,

And in the flowing stream.

In brooks and lowly willows,

In giant cedars tall ;

In the ocean’s tossing billows,

Or roaring waterfall.

In all around I see Him,

And in the heavens above;

His works aloud proclaim Him

A God of truth and love.

Mr. John Stuart Mill M. P.

THE learned late Master of Trinity, a few days before his death, congratulated the electors of Westminster on having realized a suggestion of Plato's, that it would be well for a country to give its philosophers a place among its political rulers. It is yet too soon for us to antici- pate the part which Mr. John Stuart Mill is likely to take in the practical debates of Parliament, though his bill for the reor- ganisation of local government in the me- tropolis seems a valuable contribution to the legislative stock. But his theoretical opinions on nearly all the questions of es- sential principle that underlie the contro- versies of the present day are very clearly defined. They have been published in those consummate expositions of sound thought and generous sentiment which have helped to guide the counsels of the most intellectual section of Reformers in England during more than thirty years. Of course, these views and the spirit in which they were set forth are extremely remote from those clamorous appeals to vulgar passion, in the name of a spurious and overbearing democracy, which were rife until lately upon the platforms of rest- less faction. Liberal and progressive in the truest sense; full of a frank confidence in the disposition of the great body of the people; full of the purest zeal for the ele- vation of mankind, the strongest faith in the good results of individual and nation- al freedom, his writings could never be rooted by any orator who strove to stir up the hatred of one class against another, or be pretended to urge the claim of one numbers to control the government of the State. With what important reservations, or what hopes of giving an equitable and useful direction to the advanced Medical party, Mr. Mill has now condescended to leave the tranquil atmosphere of his lofty studies and mingle in the actual fray, might partly be gathered from his declarations last year, when he was elected, and from comparing these with his books. It is not our purpose here to estimate the signifi- cance of his presence in the new House of Commons. He is welcomed there by the wisest and most thoughtful men of all parties—-Conservatives as well as Reform- ers—-who cherish the intellectual reputa- tion of that House, and trust that the standard of argument in its discussions may be improved by the example of one of the greatest masters of the art of thinking.

His eminence in that capacity is recog- nized by all the educated classes of his countrymen. Some years ago, when a meeting of the British Social Science As- sociation had brought many strangers to Oxford, a Frenchman, happening to talk with a resident member of the University, inquired about the state of philosophical pursuits among us. “I see here,” he said, “in your ancient colleges a richly-endow- ed provision for that kind of scholar-ship which consists of the study of the classi- cal languages and literature ; I see, too, in the movements of your scientific societies and congresses a great deal of activity em- ployed in the investigation of physical phenomena, or in the collection and com- parison of statistics relating to the practi- cal interests of mankind. But have you any philosopher of first-rate powers who studies to verify and to account for the or- iginal sources of human knowledge—who strives to understand the process of belief or who seeks to analyse the constitution of the mind, to define its capacities and oper- ations, and the conditions and the limits of its acquaintance with the universe?” The Englishman answered “Yes ; we have John Stuart Mill. He is not only a politi- cal thinker, who has defined the functions of Government, and whose ‘Essay on Lib- erty’ is as good, as your Rousseau’s ‘Con- trat Social’ is bad ; for Mill concludes in favour of the perfect freedom of the indi- vidual, while Rousseau ends by establish- ing the absolute power of the community over each of its members. Mill is not on- ly an economist who has treated—-with the most refined scientific analysis, and in a most comprehensive discussion—-of the laws of the production and diffusion of wealth, yet regarding them as subordinate to the improvement of humanity. He is not only a moralist, who has enlarged, el- evated, and purified the meagre Utilitari- anism of Bentham ; and, while vindicating the ethical principle of the greatest hap- piness, shown, how it may be reconciled with the aspirations of heroic virtue and devotion. He is also a mental philosopher, allied most nearly to Locke, but one who has arrived at the best results that are at- tainable within the limits of that theory which makes experience the source of all our knowledge ; and on this ground he has taken a position rivalling at least the chief of the Scottish metaphysicians. He is, a- bove all, the author of a complete system of logic, exhibiting all the methods or pro- cesses, both the syllogistic and the induc- tive, which can be employed by the intel- lect in the pursuit of truth ; he has laid down rules for the investigation of facts, and for drawing correct inferences from their evidence, with a view to positive science, as the lawyers have their own rules of evidence to direct the trial of cases in our courts ; and so far as the mor- al science are concerned, he has, with as much success as M. Comte in your country, described their place and order in a gener- al system of philosophy, and the respective conditions of their study.”

This being the intellectual reputation of Mr. Mill, whose works are used as author- ized text-books in the great English Uni- versities, and who is held by his numerous disciples to have superseded the famous philosophical teaching of the University of Edinburgh, there is one thing about his personal history which seems to deserve especial remark. His mind, one of the most highly cultivated, as well as one of the most original which the age can boast, was never subjected to academical instruc- tion in school or college. In his youth he was taught at home by his eminent father, and no education could have done so much for him as to be the child and pupil of such a man as James Mill, whose merits and achievements are rather enhanced than eclipsed by the more illustrious career of his son. In the year 1773, at the time when two other great thinkers of Scotland, David Hume and Adam Smith, were shed- ding clear light upon the most important themes of mental and social philosophy, James Mill was born, of humble parents, in a village in Forfarshire. By the assistance of a gentleman in the neighbourhood, Sir John Stuart, whose liberality has since been nobly recompensed through the glory acquired by his namesake in our days, James Mill received the benefits of learn- ing. He commenced a literary career first in Edinburgh, afterwards in London. He turned his attention first to psychology, as a follow of Hartley, founding all the con- ceptions of the mind on mere combinations of sensations ; secondly, to political econ- omy, in which he followed Ricardo. He produced books on each of those subjects, the best that could then be written from their own point of view. He then com- posed a “History of British India,” a work, not only of accurate research, but of great narrative interest and philosophical insight. An official appointment in the India House relieved him from the toils and cares of one who has to earn his bread by his pen, and then gave him leisure to form the mind of his son, born at Fenton- ville, in the year 1806, whose career has been in remarkable harmony with that of the father.

The Queen's Speech.

It is with great satisfaction that I have recourse to your assistance and advice.

I have recently declared my consent to a marriage between my daughter Prin- cess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein Sonderburg-Augus- tenburg. I trust this union may be pro- perous and happy.

The death of my beloved uncle the King of the Belgians has affected me with profound grief. I feel great confidence, however, that the wisdom which he evin- ced during his reign will animate his suc- cessor, and preserve for Belgium her in- dependence and prosperity.

My relations with foreign Powers are friendly and satisfactory, and I see no cause to fear any disturbance of the ge- neral peace.

The meeting of the fleets of France and England in the ports of the respec- tive countries has tended to cement the amity of the two nations, and to prove to the world their friendly concert in the promotion of peace.

I have observed with satisfaction that the United States, after terminating suc- cessfully the severe struggle in which they were so long engaged, are wisely re- pairing the ravages of civil war. The abolition of slavery is an event calling forth the cordial sympathies and congra- tulations of this country, which has al- ways been foremost in showing its ab- horrence of an institution repugnant to every feeling of justice and humanity.

I have at the same time the satisfac- tion to inform you that the exertions and perseverance of my naval squadron have reduced the slave trade on the West Coast of Africa within very narrow limits.

A correspondence has taken place be- tween my Government and that of the United States with respect to injuries in- flicted on American commerce by cruis- ers under the Confederate flag. Copies of this correspondence will be laid be- fore you.

The renewal of diplomatic relations with Brazil has given me much satisfac- tion, and I acknowledge with pleasure that the good offices of my ally, the King of Portugal, have contributed essentially to this happy result.

I have to regret the interruption of peace between Spain and Chili. The good offices of my Government, in con- junction with those of the Emperor of the French, have been accepted by Spain, and it is my earnest hope that the caus- es of disagreement may be removed in a manner honourable and satisfactory to both countries.

The negotiations which have been long pending in Japan, and which have been conducted with great ability by my Min- ister in that country in conjunction with the representatives of my allies in Japan, have been brought to a conclusion which merits my entire approbation. The exis- ting treaties have been ratified by the Mikado; it has been stipulated that the tariff shall be revised in a manner favour- able to commerce, and that the indemni- ty due under the terms of the convention of October, 1864, shall be punctually discharged.

I have concluded a treaty of commerce with the Emperor of Austria, which I trust will open to that empire the blessings of extended commerce and be produc- tive of important benefits to both coun- tries.

The deplorable events which have oc- curred in the island of Jamaica have in- duced me to provide at once for an im- partial inquiry, and for the due main- tenance of authority during that inquiry, by appointing a distinguished military officer as Governor and Commander of the Forces. I have given him the assis- tance of two able and learned commission- ers, who will aid him in examining into the origin, nature, and circumstances of the recent outbreak, and the measures adopted in the course of its suppression. The Legislature of Jamaica has propos- ed that the present political Constitution of the island should be replaced by a new form of government. A bill upon this subject will be submitted to your consid- eration.

Papers on these occurrences will be laid before you.

Papers on the present state of New Zealand will be laid before you.

I have given directions for the return to this country of the greater portion of my regular forces employed in that colony.

I watch with interest the proceedings which are still in progress in British North America with a view to a closer union among the provinces, and I contin- ue to attach great importance to that object.

I have observed with great concern the extensive prevalence, during the last few months, of a virulent distemper among cattle in Great Britain.

with deep regret, and with sincere sym- pathy for the sufferers, that I have learnt the severe losses which it has caused in many countries and districts. It is satis- factory to know that Ireland and a consi- derable part of Scotland are as yet free from this calamity; and I trust that, by the precautions suggested by experience, and by the Divine blessing on the means which are now being employed, its fur- ther extension may be arrested.

The orders which have been made by the Lords of my Privy Council, by vir- tue of the powers vested in them by law, with a view to prevent the spreading of this disease, will be laid before you; and your attention will be called to the expe- diency of an amendment of the law rela- ting to a subject so deeply affecting the interests of my people.

**GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS**

I have directed that the Estimates of the ensuing year shall be laid before you. They have been prepared with a due re- gard to economy, and are at the same time consistent with the maintenance of efficiency in the public service.

The condition of trade is satisfactory.

A conspiracy, adverse alike to authori- ty, property, and religion, and disaprov- ed and condemned alike by all who are interested in their maintenance, without distinction of creed or class, has unhap- pily appeared in Ireland. The constitu- tional power of the ordinary tribunals has been exerted for its repression, and the authority of the law has been firmly and impartially vindicated.

A bill will be submitted to you, found- ed on the report of the Royal Commis- sion on the subject of capital punish- ment, which I have directed to be laid before you.

Bills will be laid before you for amend- ing and consolidating the laws relating to bankruptcy, and for other improvements in the law.

Measures will also be submitted to you for extending the system of public audit to branches of receipt and expenditure, which it has not hitherto reached, and for amending the provisions of the law with respect to certain classes of legal pensions.

Your attention will be called to the subject of the oaths taken by members of Parliament, with a view to avoid un- necessary declarations, and to remove in- vidious distinctions between members of different religious communities in matters of legislation.

I have directed that information should be procured in reference to the rights of voting in the election of members to serve in Parliament for counties, cities, and boroughs.

When that information is complete the attention of Parliament will be called to the result thus obtained, with a view to such improvements in the laws which re- gulate the rights of voting in the election of members of the House of Commons as may tend to strengthen our free insti- tutions and conduce to the public welfare.

In these and all other deliberations I fervently pray that the blessing of Al- mighty God may guide your counsels to the promotion of the happiness of my people.—-THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS.

The Speeches of President
Johnson and Mr. Bancroft

The American custom of publicly cele- brating the anniversaries of deceased patriots has at no time been recommended by the style of oratory which it has de- veloped. Before the war it had greatly contributed to form a habit of hollow and turbid declamation, often in strange con- trast with the simplicity and truthfulness of the characters nominally honoured. Last month witnessed two of these cele- brations, severally dedicated to the me- mory of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. The speaker at the first was Mr. Bancroft, the historian, and at the second President Johnson. Neither can be charged with the coldness which marked the “orations” of former days; both were glowing with passion; but the address of neither was of a kind to gladden the hearts of true patriots, or inspire dis- tant observers with respect. Mr. John- son’s speech was full of the old Tennessee spirit, with this important difference, that instead of being directed against the Southern dis-Unionists, it was pointed at men, but for whose public spirit and con- stancy under disappointment and misfor- tune he would not now be President of the United States. His denunciations, however, were not altogether without cause. The President was defending himself against violent and unjust attacks. He had been personally assailed with a bitterness which has rarely been surpass- ed on account of his reconstruction policy, and since the promulgation of his veto on the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill, has been de- nounced in Congress itself as a rebel and traitor, and as an “obstacle which must be got rid of.” It is now [.....] detractors with words of wrath. The problem of reconstruction is a very dif- ficult one; it may be that the policy which the President is pursuing will not succeed in winning back the South, and yet it may be his duty to try it, and to hope for its success. Nor will his pre- sent opponents have any right to taunt him with its eventual failure. The dif- ference between the President's and the Radicals' is, that his plan contemplates the whole Southern population, while they care only for the negroes; forget- ting that if the black man is to prosper, it must be by the prosperity of the whole community, and that if he is to enjoy freedom it must be through the reinvi- goration of free institutions; and that no legislation which should impair these could permanently serve his interests. We can discover no signs that the course which the Radicals have followed has had the effect of driving President John- son into the hands of the old Copper- head party, although it was well cal- culated to have that effect upon a weak- er man. The President has plainly and repeatedly declared that for the present the negro must and shall be protected at the South by special legislative and ad- ministrative measures, with the execution of which he is ready to charge himself. Two days after the date of his veto he told General Howard that he interpreted the act of Congress passed last session as authorizing the continuance of the Freed- men's Bureau for one year from the pro- clamation of peace which he proposes shortly to issue. And he has declared himself ready to go further than this, and to give his assent to a Bill extending the powers and operation of the existing Bureau for two years. It is, therefore, most unjust to represent him as opposed to measures necessary for the protection of the freedmen, and we cannot wonder at the indignation he expressed on Washington's birthday. His speech was provoked by personal attacks; it was ut- tered in defence of the constitution; and, unlike those to which it was a reply, it contained no menaces. But for all this it was a coarse exhibition, and altogether unworthy of the high office of the speak- er. In the very endeavour to be superior to parties Mr. Johnson is becoming a partisan.

Mr. Bancroft's address on President Lincoln's birthday was of a wholly dif- ferent character. It was the result of study and preparation. The puerile vanity of the sentiment and the inflation of the style would be amusing if we could forget how often the display of these childish qualities has dangerously misled the world by causing it to disbelieve in that earnestness and strength of the na- tional character which underlies so much superficial folly. The insults offered to this country were gratuitous and imper- tinent. What qualifications for doing honour to President Lincoln can be as- cribed to one who makes the birthday of the late President the occasion for an out- pouring of vulgar abuse upon any body; A viler tribute to the sad, kindly, re- ticent, peace-loving Lincoln than this "oration" it would be difficult to imagine. And the insult was elaborated with the knowledge that the representative of this country would be present to hear it. We wonder if Mr. Bancroft once asked him- self what were the reasons which led Sir Frederick Bruce to accept the invita- tion to the House of Representatives. Did he suppose that the Minister was at- tracted by the magic of his genius, or was simply obeying the summons of Mr. Seward? We know why our Ambassador went, and that he would not have done justice to the sincere, though tardy, feel- ings of the English people if he had not been present. Mr. Lincoln was more honored that day by the willing attendance and the magnanimous indifference of the British Ambassador than he was by the high wrought "eloquence" of his own countryman. In the eyes of Sir Freder- ick Bruce the littleness of the living could not diminish the greatness of the dead; and, agreeing with him, none of us regret that he attended the celebration of Mr. Lincoln's birthday, even at the cost of listening to an oration from Mr. Bancroft. But Mr. Seward must take care that our Minister shall not again be made the vic- tim of confidence in American hospitality. One accident of this kind is too many.

A Profitable Invention.

Mr. A. B. Wilson, inventor of the sewing machine, which has made him a millionaire, left North Adams, Massachu- setts, some fifteen years ago, forlorn and shabby, with his pack and dinner on his back, and with scarcely a dime in his pocket. He now returns to build the Wilson Block, which will perpetuate his name and borrow interests from his vicissi- tudes. It will be one of the finest struc- tures in Massachusetts, and a model of architectural beauty. The upper stories are designed for a hotel, with all the arrangements of the best in the country. Most of the rooms are already engaged by Bostonians, in view of the prospective dangers of the cholera [......]

Bangkok Recorder.

QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTH DAY.

We have this day been looking meditatively on the picture of the Illus- trious [....] Her most gracious Ma- jesty, the Queen of England in the Illustrated London News for the 10th of Feb. and reading in connec- tion the editorial account of Her Ma- jesty's opening Parliament in person on Tuesday the 6th of Feb; and are happy to find our feelings in lively sympathy with true Englishmen in their high regard and profound love for their Queen, and their gladness in seeing her again, after her long "bap- tism of sorrow" coming out from her seclusion, nobly determining to cheer her great people by opening herself the New Parliament according to the ri- tual of their noble constitution.

And when we remember that this day is Her Majesty's 47th birth day, and that it will be commemorated with great joy by the many millions of Her Majesty's subjects in all parts of the earth, we feel our hearts going out in this direction also, and would be happy to unite with Her Majesty's subjects in this "end of the earth" in extolling Her Majesty's extraordinary virtues and craving from the Most High the best of Heaven's blessings upon her royal person, her royal fami- ly, and her great kingdom. But as no Englishmen has thought it suita- ble to invite us to join him in an ap- propriate festival for this great occa- sion, we must content ourselves in do- ing what we can in our humble posi- tion as editor of THE BANGKOK RECOR- DER, now a very diminutive thing, but to be honored nevertheless for what it is destined to become. Here then on this little sheet, so full of promise of great growth and power, we record our heart-felt sentiment—a toast if you so please to call it, but to be drank with the best wine of heaven.

HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA—- the most illustrious and lovely Queen England has ever had—May her bap- tism of sorrow be turned henceforth and forever into a baptism of joy-—Her illustrious children copy closely her most excellent example and share her future blissful reward—-Her noble subjects, wide expanding as the globe we inhabit, move onward and upward in every great and good reform in fra- ternal conjunction with their own true American Cousins, until perfection of human government shall be fully rea- lized on both sides of the Atlantic, and be copied by all the nations and kingdoms of the world.

Our Buddhist Champion.

As we have never logically answer- ed our antagonist's objection to the Bible on the Rainbow question, and since he thinks we have not treated him fairly in passing it by, we will now endeavour to do it and him jus- tice in regard to the matter. He thinks the Bible account of the rainbow is so void of scientific accuracy and truth, that it is a disgrace to the Book, and a standing evidence against the su- perlative excellence we claim for it. What we have to do then, at the pre- sent time, is to prove that so far from dishonoring the Bible, that account of the rainbow positively honors it, and carries within itself evidence that it is befitting the infinite God who spoke it.

The passage cited by our antago- nist may be found in the IX chapter of Genesis the 9th and 17th verses inclusive. The gist of his criticism seems to be, that the Bible makes so much of a mere "occular illusion" which is not in the cloud nor in fact anywhere else, and represents God as establishing that utter nothing as a to- ken of his covenant with Noah and his posterity that there shall "no more be a flood to destroy the earth." He fan- cies that the author of the Rollo series has proved that "there is no rainbow at all" and that hence a strong argu- ment, can be brought against the Bi- ble on this ground. Is it possible that our antagonist has from reading the Rollo series or by any other means come to disbelieve the existence of the rainbow? If so, what is there in all the world of which his senses take cognizance that he will not disbelieve for the sake of building an argument against the Bible? He is grossly mis- taken in concluding that the author of the Rollo series taught his pupils the [................................] [................................] ted is saying to her pupils that "there is no rainbow, at all" she could not have meant that there is nothing real in it; for in her explanations of it she immediately tells them that "the co- lors they saw came from drops of rain between them and the gate." Now colors are in no sense a non-entity. Most certainly they are something, though they cannot be grasped and handled like most other things. It was in this sense, doubtless, that Miss Mary intended her remark about the rain- bow. It is not a bow as children com- monly think it to be, the ends of which can be reached and precious jewels and other riches found there; but a mere etherial display of colors in the form of a bow, produced by the reflec- tion and refraction of sun-beams from an infinity of rain drops in the act of falling. That such is the cause of the rainbow was known by philos- ophers more than 200 years ago. But in the providence of God it was re- served for the wonderful genius of the immortal Sir Isaac Newton to unravel all its mysteries, and state clearly all the laws or rules by which it is made. So that now any ordinary scholar in the schools of Christian lands may quite well understand them. These laws are usually treated of in philoso- phical books under the general head of Colors in natural objects.

The rainbow is correctly classed with all objects or things of color. It is as much a real existence as any other thing of color which the eye be- holds, for example leaves, flowers, and light. Indeed it is light and nothing but light, so reflected and refracted from pure globules of rain as to form the appearance of a bow. The colors of every thing we see depend upon the kind of rays which it reflects. A set- tled law of all bodies that have color is that "their colors are not proper- ties inherent in the bodies themselves by which they immediately effect our sight, but are mere consequences of that peculiar disposition of the parti- cles of each body, by which it is ena- bled more copiously to reflect the rays of one particular color, and to trans- mit, or stifle or, more properly to ab- sorb, the others." The light of the sun is the great source of all the seven primary colors, in all the variety of shades of color are made by variously combining the primary ones. The rainbow displays all the primary co- lors in such relations to each other that we may distinguish each from the other, and see them all admirably blending into one another. But most objects of color reflect only a part of the rays that strike them. Some are so constituted as to reflect the violet rays or the indigo or pale blue, some the green, some the yellow, some the red, and others two or more of the se- ven colors so blended as to produce a variety of colors. All the rays not reflected are absorbed and lost in the object itself.

A mirror reflects all the rays of the sun which strike it at a certain angle, and hence the dazzling splendor of the reflection. When we stand before the mirror, rays of light make a per- fect picture of our persons on the glass, and then that picture is brought by reflected rays and perfectly copied on the expanded nerve of vision in the eye. By the art of photography the picture made on the glass is fixed so it may be seen there and copied from it.

A pure glass in the form of a globe or a soap bubble will reflect but a part of the rays that strike it, while the most of them pass through it, and others being refracted twice are brought to the eye of the spectator in connec- tion with the reflected rays, and hence the soft rainbow colors that appear by the experiment.

Now rain drops are like glass globes or soap bubbles in their power to re- flect and refract rays of light. And be- cause an infinite number of them are concerned in the phenomenon as viewed at a certain angle by the eye, the con- sequence is the appearance, not of an entire circle as that produced by soap bubbles, but a segment of a circle as we see in the rainbow. Now since such is the nature of the rainbow will our antagonist still insist that it is an utter nothing? He might as well in- sist that the pictures of objects mir- rored forth by the mirror are nothing, that photographic pictures are nothing, that all colors are nothing, nay that there is no such thing as light.

The laws by which the rainbow are constituted were all originally made, and are continually kept in operation [.........] alone. And we affirm, [................................] made the rainbow for the express purpose of having it a perpetual sign between Him and mankind, that He will never again destroy the earth by a deluge of waters. We believe what Moses wrote of the rainbow in the book of Genesis, for there is every evidence which an honest mind can desire, to prove that he wrote the whole of that Book under the infallible in- spiration of the Holy Spirit of God. No uninspired man could have given such an account of the creation as he gave. And that account has been fully and wonderfully substantiated by the science of mathematics, and geology, and that too in spite of the mighty efforts which a large majority of the learned in these sciences have made to over- throw it. In the account which Mo- ses gives of the rainbow there is not the least intimation given that the celestial arch was ever seen before the flood, but contrariwise every ap- pearance necessary to lead the reader to the conclusion, that it was then first ushered into existence as a most striking and magnificent sign of pro- mise and hope for the comfort and as- surance of Noah and all his posterity. Though the laws by which it is made may have existed from the begin- ning of the creation, it does not necessarily follow that all the condi- tions essential to their producing a rainbow existed before that day. It is Jehovah alone who brings the drops of falling rain into such relations to the eyes of men as that they see the arch. Our daily experience teaches us that He does not do this every time it rains, but prefers to have it appear only occasionally with intervals some- times of weeks and months even when the rain falls frequently. If God thus prevent its appearance now with such long intervals, what man in his senses will be so rash as to say it is folly to think that he probably did it for the longer period of 1600 years before Noah's exodus from the Ark?

Again, had the rainbow been a phenomenon of occasional appearance before that day, which Noah had seen perhaps, a thousand times in his life of 600 years, it is difficult to perceive how he could have been deeply impressed by its appearance then as a sign be- tween Jehovah and himself. And the words by which God established it as a sign would not seem to comfort with such an interpretation of it. "I do set my bow in the cloud and it shall be a token of a covenant between me and the earth." The idea seems to be that it was a new thing under the sun, and that God made it that day. "And it shall come to pass" said Jehovah "when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud." Now had it been seen many times be- fore, and had it become a common oc- currence as now, where would be the propriety of giving a promise that it should appear in the cloud in the fu- ture? for that would be an occurrence of course as it always had been. But if that were the first time the bow ap- peared, then the promise of its con- tinuance became peculiarly necessary and comforting. And such, we may add, would seem to be the natural im- pression produced in the minds of all unsophisticated readers of that narra- tive, who have no theory to support contrary to it.

Again, there is much reason for the opinion of many of the most learned geologists, philologists, and mathemati- cians, among whom are La Place, Cuvier and Humboldt, that during all the period of 1600 years before the flood there was no rain in any part of the earth, that the temperature of all the present zones of the globe was uni- formly mild throughout the whole year, and that consequently there was nothing to disturb the universal equili- brium, and that hence the usual cau- ses of rain must have been wanting. That such was the fact they think is demonstrated by the remarkably even distribution of fossil remains of plants and animals in all parts of the earth as well in the frozen as in the frigid and temperate zones. Now this dis- covery of science independent of what Moses wrote of that time, and with no intention of supporting Moses by it, is now found to be in wonderful harmo- ny with the few words he says about rain in the antediluvian age. His words are "The Lord had not caused it to rain upon the earth, but there went up a mist and watered the whole face of the ground." Now if it be true that there was no rain before the flood, then it follows that there was no rain- bows, and that splendid token of [.....................] and every to mankind was first made after the flood and for that express purpose.

That there was a great change at the time of the deluge, producing vi- cissitudes of seasons with their usual and natural accompaniments of winds clouds and rain, seems to be clearly intimated in the account which Moses gave of it; for he represents Jehovah as having promised Noah that "while the earth remaineth seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and sum- mer and winter and day and night shall not cease." 'The temperature of the earth having undergone' says Lord Rosse, 'this great change, which modern science has discovered, and cold winds and clouds having suc- ceeded that ardent and serene sky which universally prevailed in the antedeluvian age, man would natural- ly feel great apprehensions at such a change lest the earth might become more and more refrigerated, and lest the corn should gradually decay and deprive him of every means of supporting his existence; therefore, to him at this awful epoch with this encouraging assurance" that "seed time and harvest and cold and heat, and summer, and winter, and day and night shall not cease" as long as the earth remaineth. Here then, we again see, the discoveries of science and the words of the divine writer going as it were hand in hand in the accounts which they afford of the primitive era. Is it then necessary once more to ask the reader how it was possible for Moses thus to have fashioned his his- tory of such a period so as to render it in so many particulars, conforms- ble to the facts which science has re- cently discovered, if what he wrote was a mere invention of his own fancy?"

The truth is Moses wrote as the Almighty and all-wise maker of the universe by His Spirit dictate! to him, and hence no discoveries of science has ever detected the least error in his writings; and we may rest assured that they never can. And hence his account of the rainbow is an accurate account, and worthy of the all-wise God who taught him what to write. What though the rainbow be not strictly in the cloud, but between the observer and the cloud? Does it not always appear to be in the cloud in the same sense that the sun always appears to rise and set? Is it not pro- per for God to use such popular lan- guage in speaking to men? Do not the most scientifical and learned men, in speaking of the rising and setting of the sun and of the rainbow use words adapted to the appearance and not in strict accord with science? Does not even our learned antagonist always do so in speaking to his chil- dren and to all others? Why then should he ridicule the Word of God because it is written in popular lan- guage, speaking of the physical world according as it naturally appears to men and not as a treatise on science would speak of them? Has he not yet learned that the Bible was written solely for the purpose of teaching true and undefiled religion, that is, the knowl- edge and service and enjoyment of the true God? Has he yet to learn that this knowledge is a light to the soul far more important for the welfare of mankind than the natural sun?

In concluding this long article we beg to ask His Siamese Majesty if we have not now been faithful in meeting his objection and made it sufficiently clear that the rainbow is a magnifi- cent and most befitting sign, which Jehovah made for the express pur- pose of being a perpetual token of his covenant with Noah and all his pos- terity? Could there have been any other more suitable and more worthy of a God of love, and of a conspicuous place as such in the Book of his love?

A Horrible Scene.

While spending a few days in the charming city of Petchaburee a little more than a year since we were invited to attend the cremation of the body of a man in the medium walks of life. He had been a near neighbor to the friends with whom we were stopping, and had died two or three days before. We had never witnessed a like scene of horror in this heathen country, al- though we had been residents in it more than thirty years. We had heard of its being a common occurrence in the country, but had not dreamed of the half of its horrors. It seemed to us quite strange that our eyes should first behold it in the precincts of His Majesty's lovely mountain palace, and in a town above all others by nature powerfully inviting to all lovely deeds. In this are verified the words of Bishop Heber.

And only man is vile"

The corpse was first to be offered to a flock of vultures—-a hundred or more. Before the coffin was opened the filthy and horrible gang had assem- bled, "for where soever the the carcass is there will the eagles ( vultures ) be gathered together"—-They were perch- ed on the ridges of the temple build- ings, and even on small trees and bush- es, within a dozen feet of the body. They were so exceedingly hungry for their morning meal that the sexton and his assistants had to beat them off many times from improper interference with the various preliminary services that must be had ere the coffin could be open- ed. And when in the act of opening it, the vultures, seeming to be aware that there would be but a mouthful for each, and very doubtful at that, if divided among them all and a herd of greedy dogs besides that were waiting for their opportunity—-they swooped down in great excitement to have the first bite. It required many assistants to scare them off until all was ready. The body was taken out of the coffin and laid on a little pile of wood that had been ar- ranged on a small temporary altar erected for the purpose. Being thus made ready the birds were allowed to descend upon the corpse and tear from it as they liked. It was for a few moments quite hidden by their rush upon it. But it required only a mo- ment for each bird, when once the way was open for him, to grab up his part with both bill and talons, when he would spread his wings and mount up to some quiet place for eating it. The sexton seemed to consider that he too was making merit by cutting off parts of the body and throwing them to the emaciated dogs round about the altar, as the departed spirit of the dead man had done in bequeathing his body to vultures and dogs. The birds, not satisfied with what they could get from the altar, came down and quarrelled with the dogs for a little of their share.

While this was going on for the space of about fifteen minutes, the mourners stood, waiting with wax candles and incense sticks in hand to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased by assisting in the burning of the bones that were left after the vultures and the dogs had made them bare as they could. The sexton with the assistance of another man then gathered up the skeleton and put it back into the coffin. This was then taken up by four men and carried around the funeral pile three times. It was then laid on the top of the wood, and a few sticks of wood were put into the coffin to aid in burning the bones. Then a lighted torch was applied to the wood. Next the relatives and other mourners stepped up and laid each a wax candle by the torch. Others brought incense sticks and laid them on the pile. Hav- ing thus performed their last tribute of respect for the dead, the friends re- tired from the scene.

The vultures, having had but a scanty breakfast, lingered around the place until they were sure the fire would leave nothing more for them, when they shook their hideous heads, and hop- ping a few steps to get up a little mo- mentum, as they always do, flapped their shaggy wings and flew away.

Vultures are certainly the most odi- ous birds that were ever made. They are always of a dirty carrion complex- ion, and their heads always bald and of a dirty white, excepting a few of their leaders whose heads are red like a male turkey. Their necks are but scantily fledged with a down that was in- tended to be white, but is always odiously dirty. They are all of a purple putrid color, and apparently equal in size, being about that of a common hen turkey.

A bird which lives upon dead bodies as the vultures do is of course looked upon by the heathen with many slavish and fearful superstitions. They are regarded as the bearers of death war- rants to some one or more of the family occupying the house on which they alight. These warrants can be avert- ed only by offerings of incense sticks, flowers and parched rice, and these while thought oftentimes efficacious are known to fall about as frequently. Hence the advent of vultures to the ridge of one's house is always regarded as a sad event.

It is accounted a very great sin to kill vultures. And the reason is, that they themselves never kill animals and are so strict in carrying out their determina- tion not to do so, as to prefer to live always on putrid meat. They afford an illustrious example of Budd[h]'s pre- cept never to kill animals of any kind.

We had supposed that such a dis- position of dead human bodies was re- served only for the greatest criminals. But we learned then that many of the country people, even of the most re- spectable classes make an offering of the bodies of their dead to the vultures under the superstitious notion that they make peculiar merit by the act, both in behalf of the departed spirit of the dead and of themselves. Some persons, knowing that they are soon to die, give orders that their flesh be given to the vultures, hoping by it to gain some merit in a future state. O that this deluded people might know and choose the true way to obtain merit, and a happy and glorious eternity!

Correspondence.

CRICKET FIGHTING.

Whilst walking through the bazaar the other day a peculiar grating sound constantly met my ears which seemed familiar to me, but still I could not think of the cause. Upon looking a- round, however, I was reminded that it is the Cricket-season. Not that athletic and useful-game which is so much practiced in England and Ame- rica, but the season for fighting crick- ets. Such is the propensity of this people for gaming, that they often- times descend as low as it is possible to get. It might be supposed that cock fighting was about as low as it is pos- sible to get in that line, but the Siam- ese descend still lower than that, and fight birds and crickets. After the rains commence a small black cricket (I think the grygllus hemip- tera) becomes very pleaty. The boys search for these little creatures, by tearing up the old brick walks and digging in the loose ground. They make a small box of tough mud plac- ing wooden bars in the upperside so that the crickets can be put in, and taken out at pleasure. These boxes, each one containing a cricket, are ex- posed for sale, at many of the stalls in the market. When they wish to have a fight two strangers are put together in the same box, and the little fellows pitch into each other with wonderful pluck. Considerable sums of money are often staked on favorite crickets. The sport, too, is not confined to boys but it is said that even noblemen engage in it. There is scarcely any thing more in- jurious to Siam to-day than this unusual disposition to sport by all classes. In- deed there is no more useless class of society the world over than sporting gentlemen. That class of persons so numerous in Europe and America usually denominated turfites are only carrying out this same disposition on a larger scale. SCRIBBLER.

For the Bangkok Recorder.
THE RED LIME WORKS.

Among the customs of the Siamese, and also of some other Oriental na- tions, there is scarcely any thing more disgusting to the eyes of a European, than the chewing of the areca nut, in connection with the seri leaf, lime, tobacco &c. A red saliva is continu- ally oozing from their mouths, which contaminates almost every thing with which they come in contact. I have seen women cooking rice, and prepar- ing victuals for the family, with their fingers all daubed with the red saliva. Occasionally too, they would stop in the midst of their work, and put their fingers into their mouth, in order to give the quid a peculiar turn. I heard an officer in the English navy remark not long since, that he considered some of the Siamese women rather pretty, at first sight, but when he came to look at their mouth it all vanished, and they became disgusting to him. This practice is almost universal here, by all classes and by both sexes. When asked why they do it, the almost uni- versal answer is, that it is to prevent the mouth, and teeth from giving out an offensive smell. Of course it does kill any offensive smell coming from the breath or teeth, but the cure is more offensive than the disease.

The preparation of the lime for this purpose, like almost every thing else in Siam is of course a monopoly. The work, however, except the burning of the lime, is done principally by Pe- guan women. The establishment is on the bank of the river above the city, adjoining the Rong Lao, dis-

tillery. The lime stones are brought from a distance, principally from the Meklong, and are burned in a primitive kiln, not unlike those formerly used in western countries. Near the kiln are a number of round vats, built with brick and mortar, and resembling one half of a hogshead, which has been cut in two. These vats are built adjoining each other. Occasionally by the side of one of the larger vats, is one very much smaller, but of similiar shape. In a place adjoining the vats a num- ber of women may be found pound- ing the turmeric root, in a kind of mortar, and working the hammers with their feet. They then take some of the pulverized turmeric root, and put it into the small vat adjoining the larger ones, and pour some water over it. They then take a basket of un- slaked lime, and put it in also, and by the time the lime is slaked, the mix- ture has assumed a beautiful crimson colour. The mixture is then taken out of the small vat, and strained through a cloth into one of the larger ones, and it is then passed from one to the other, by means of bamboo spouts. After it has dried down to a proper thickness, it is peddled out by women in boats, together with other articles for sale, and sometimes the boat has nothing but the lime itself. Quantities of it are sent off in boats, and small junks down the coast, and to other places throughout the king- dom. A very small quantity of it spread on the seri leaf, is sufficient to give the whole mouthful of areca to- bacco &c. a proper colour and tone. A quantity of it together in the vats, presents a very pretty appearance and reminds one of ice cream coloured with straw berries.

LOCAL.

At her residence in this city on the 18th inst. Mrs. Bateman, wife of S. Bateman Esqr. Secretary to His Ex- cellency the Prime Minister, of a son.

Death.

At his residence in this city, on the 9th inst. Phya P'et-pance of a chronic disease from which he had suffered nearly six months. The cremation of his body took place at Temple Sa- kate on Monday the 21st inst.

Deceased was one of the Siamese judges connected with the foreign de- partment, and has been reported to us for publication in the "Siamese Re- corder" as a blameless man in his offi- cial capacity.

We are very sorry to hear that Phya Montree Sôôriwang the younger own brother of His Excellency Chow Phya Kralahôme the Prime Minister is dangerously sick of acute dysentery. He has been ill several weeks, and till quite recently, entirely under the me- dical care of native physicians. Being by them pronounced incurable, he has placed himself in the hands of Doctor Campbell R. N. We greatly fear it is too late for any human skill to effect a cure. The patient, it will be re- membered, was at the head of the Si- amese Embassy to London in 1857.

It is still a time of great quietness in all the outward manifestation of this people. There is but little stir in any department of business. There are three steam rice mills running much the greater part of the time. The 4th mill, we think, is not yet quite ready to begin operations. We are informed that rice producers are be- coming more and more inclined to sell their paddy for hulling at these mills rather than hull it themselves by the tedious native process. There is every prospect that steam rice mills will, not long hence, drive the native mills into oblivion.

Steam saw mills are more slow in getting into power here; but they are surely making progress, and will, with- out doubt, ere long annihilate the pre- sent plan of sawing wholly by the strength of human muscles unaided by the least machinery.

There are now in port only 10 for- eign vessels to compete with 54 fine square rigged brigs, barques, and ships. But it is reported that many of the Siamese and Chinese owners of these vessels, are beginning to think that they have quite over done their business in that line, and that it would have been more profitable for them to have bought a less number of foreign vessels and relied more on chartering from foreigners, as the losses by wear, tear and wreck, and dishonest servants and agents often consumes all the profit.

It is interesting to contrast the pre- sent state of shipping in port with what was the usual appearance this season of the year on the river, and at the anchorage over the bar 30 years ago. Then there were two lines of monstrous Junks engaged in the China trade at anchor in the river numbering from 60 to 80. Now there are not more than 3 or 4, and these are so far behind the times as to be- come curiosities. There are from 80 to 100 small native junks used as lighters and for country trading. Besid- es these there are a few of a little larger size which trade between this and Hainan. The large China Junks al- ways left sometime in June and re- turned in January or February taking all possible advantage of the monsoons.

Prices Current.

EXCHANGE—On Singapore per 10 d.s. Hongkong 2 P cent discount 30 d. s. Lon- don 4s 9⅓ d. P 86 m. s.

FREIGHTS.—There are few foreign ves- sels in port, and we hear of no new chart- ers. The following vessels have sailed since the 1st inst. principally loaded on the owners account.

Brit. bark "Atma" for Hongkong with 4890 pls. rice, 16 pls. tin, 107 pls. mussels, Total value ฿ 37,906.

Siamese schooner "Maria" for Hong- kong with 3200 pls. rice, 32 pls. sapanwood, 232 pls. hemp, 240 pls. salt fish, 14 pls. gamboge, 220 pieces teak plank. Total value ฿ 12,060.

Siamese ship "Shooting Star" for Hong- kong with 10059 pls. rice, 915 pls. sapan- wood, 278 pls. peas, 25 pls. salt fish. Total value ฿ 26,630.

Siamese bark "Tye Watt" for Hong- kong with 6600 pls. rice, 1108 pls. paddy, 700 pls. sugar, 1466 pls. sapanwood, 150 pls. peas, 521 pls. pepper, 212 pls. tin, 850 pls. teelseed, 150 pls. hemp, 150 pls. hides, 250 pls. salt fish, 8 pls. ivory. Total value ฿ 39,680.

Siamese Steamer "Chow Phya" for Singapore with 1921 pls. rice, 956 pls. sug- ar, 489 pls. sapanwood, 58 pls. peas, 48 pls. rawsilk, 200 pls. hides, 50 pls. horns, 1365 pls. salt fish, 11 pls. ivory. Total value ฿ 37, 680.

British schooner "Water Lily" for Sing- apore with 87 pls. rice, 300 pls. sapanwood, 125 pls. sugar, 19 pls. raw silk, 20 pls. teel- seed, 115 pls. horns, 217 pls. salt fish, 22 pls. gumbenjamin, 4 pls. ivory, 8 pls. gam- boge, 297 pls. sticklac, 250 pieces teak plank. Total value ฿ 16,891.

Siamese bark "Senator" for Hongkong with 3481 pls. rice, 125 pls. sugar, 109 pls. peas, 37 pls. hemp, 146 pls. hides, 6 pls. salt fish, 268 pieces teak plank, 890 pls. rosewood, 96 pls. mangrove bark. Total value ฿ 11,516.

Prussian brig "Catherina" for Hong- kong with 3405 pls. rice, 45 pls. sapanwood. Total value ฿ 9,978.

Siamese ship "Handy" for Hongkong with 11500 pls. rice, 913 pls. sugar, 1360 pls. sapanwood, 391 pls. peas, 900 pls. pep- per, 23 pls. tin, 60 pls. teelseed, 65 pls. hemp, 60 pls. hides, 10 pls. horns, 118 pls. salt fish, 8 pls. cardamums, (best). Total value ฿ 38,885.

Siamese bark "Advance" for Hongkong with 4448 pls. rice, 106 pls. sapanwood, 233 pls. teelseed, 469 pls. salt fish. Total value $18,615.

Dutch bark "H. Ludaine" for Hong- kong with 8567 pls. rice, 44 pls. sugar, 560 pls. sapanwood, 30 pls. pepper. Total value $21,864.

Siamese ship "Moonlight" for Hong- kong with 750 pls. rice, 1400 pls. sapan- wood, 1150 pls. pepper, 500 pls. tealseed, 400 pls. mussels, 1500 pls. rosewood. Total value $16,800.

Postscript
QUEEN VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY.

A ball was given at H. B. M. Con- sulate last night to celebrate the an- niversary of Her Majesty's birthday.

Dancing commenced about nine o'clock, and was kept up with great spirit till twelve, when the party ad- journed to the supper room. After sup- per dancing recommenced and con- tinued till half past three.

The assembly then broke up, and the guests took their departure highly satisfied with their evening's entertain- ment.

The band of H. E. the Kralahome, which had been kindly lent for the occasion, performed with more than ordinary skill: and contributed not a little to the general pleasure.

Bangkok May 25th 1866.

A Sponge and what it is.

The very sponge which washes your face was brought up from the bottom of the ocean, and was part of a living animal. For a long time sponges were supposed to be plants—-Messrs. Agassiz and Gould, in 1848, called them so; but later observation has decided them to be animals; and they are placed in the class Protozoa, the class most resembling plants.

When first found in the water, their ap- pearance is very different from this which you now see. This is the skeleton only, the part corresponding to our bones. When this was a complete living thing, deep down under the ocean, it was covered all over the outside, and filled in every one of those lit- tle holes with a soft substance, something like the white of an egg, and this was like our flesh. It was fastened tightly to a rock; and its color was a dull bluish black on the upper side, and a dirty white below. It was formerly supposed to be a plant, because it was always fast in one place; but, for other reasons, it is decidedly an animal.

All through this mass is a regular circu- lation like our blood and food. It has been seen to absorb nutritious matter-—that is, to eat, or rather to drink. You see all over its surface, orifices or holes: these commu- nicate with each other all throughout. In- to the largest of these, called pores, the sea- water is constantly entering, and out thro- ugh the small ones, called vents, it is re- gularly spouted out; and it doubtless finds in this sea-water minute animals which serve it for food, and increase its bulk. And this odd creature produces others like itself.

From the soft part a little globule is seen to float off—and, after moving about for a while very briskly, here and there, as if looking for a place, it fastens itself to some rock. Next, gradually, begins to be seen the more solid skeleton, the soft part grows more bulky, and thus it grows; not very slowly, either, for the divers find it, at the end of three years, large enough to carry away.

To get these sponges from the bottom of the ocean, furnishes occupation for a great number of people. One thousand men are busy in the Ottoman archipelago alone—- and thousands, besides, with many hun- dred boats, are engaged in the Gulf of Mac- hri, on the Barbary coast and elsewhere; so that in many villages, from May till Sep- tember, the best diving time, only old men, women, and children can be found.

The finest kind is brought from the Ægean Sea. At daylight there, in the sum- mer time, when the weather is pleasant (for it requires smooth water), the boats, each with six or eight men and one pair of oars, will leave the shore, and proceed to where the water is eight, or ten, or even thirty fathoms deep—-for those found in shallow water are very inferior.

Here they stop, and the divers prepare to descend. Each one puts a hoop around his neck, and to this fastens a bag in which the sponges are put as they are gathered. In very deep water the diver uses a rope, with a heavy stone to it. He sinks the stone to the spot he intends to reach, and thus it holds the rope steadily, which he uses to assist himself in coming up again to the surface.

After being busy thus till noon, they re- turn to some of those pleasant little nooks, which abound on the shores of the archi- pelago, to prepare what they have gathered fit for sale.

The first thing is to press on the soft part of the animal, and then to bleach the remainder in the sun; so they beat them, and stamp on them, and trample them, till there is no more life left. The skele- ton part is then washed and spread in the sun, until it is quite clean, and grown to be this dull yellowish color; then it is packed in bags and sent to market for sale—-sent in all parts of Asia, Europe, and America, and used for washing pur- poses.—The PACIFIC

Not a "Developed"
Angle Worm.

Dr. Stein, a German professor, has recently summed up the progress and attainment of knowledge of the "infusorial animals," or the lowest forms of animal life, such as are seen in the liquids by the help of a microscope. The conclu- sions are adverse to the theory of Darwin of the creation of animal life from veg- itable matter, and its steady growth or development upward to the highest forms or existence, even to man. Dr. Stein says all infusoria are supplied with special inner propagating organs, that it is in- credible that they are created in any other way, that they are only brought forth in like forms of the same species, that un- der no circumstances are they developed from inert matter, and that no human experiment ever has or ever can produce the simplest living atom. How the first forms of each species are brought into being is a secret that no science has yet solved, and probably never can; but it is proved that all life comes from life, and it must be content with that achieve- ment. Dr. Stein reconciles his conclusions with the frequent phenomenon that small animal life appears among vegitable mat- ter put in water, and even in apparently pure rain water itself, by stating that it has been discovered that the infusorial animals have the capacity of changing into a passive state, and shrinking and hardening into petty capsules, like in- finitesimal bits of vegetable matter, and in this form are attached to grass, earth, or other substances, and go along with them into water, or are washed into it, and be- ing therein are re-vivified, and multiply. Another peculiarity of these simple forms of animal life is, that some, if not all of them, are multiplied by dividing them- selves in two. Under the protection of these antagonistic conclusions to the Dar- winian theory, man may hold himself in new self-respect, as a distinct, original creation—-"in the very image of God" —-and not a "reconstructed," overgrown bit of decayed grass—a step from the monkey, and only a pair of stairs above an angle-worm.—-SPRINGFIELD REPUB- LICAN.

Gov. Brownlow on
REPRESENTATION.

Gov. Brownlow writes to Schuyler Col- fax urging the admission to Congress of the members-elect from Tennessee, but he adds the following striking statement:

"If the removal of the federal troops from Tennessee must necessarily follow upon the admission of our Congressional delegation to their seats, why then, and in that case, the loyal men of Tennessee hay to be without representatives in Congress. But our members can be admitted, and a military force retained sufficient to govern and control the rebellious. I tell you, and through you all whom it may concern, that without a law to disfranchise rebels, and a force to carry out the provisions of that law, this state will pass into the hands of the rebels, and a terrible state of affairs is bound to follow. Union men will be driven from the state, forced to sacrifice what they have, and seek homes elsewhere. And yet Tennessee is in a much better condition than any of the other revolted states, and affords a stronger loyal population."

The Senate of Tennessee has voted its adhesion to THE SAME VIEW OF THE PRE- SENT PERILS TO THE LOYALISTS OF THAT TATE.—N. Y. INDEPENDENT.

GOOD FOR KENTUCKY.—In the House, on Friday, Mr. McKee, of Kentucky, made a brave speech in favor of the Constitu- tional Amendment introduced by the joint committee on reconstruction, in which he said:

"Those who were in favor amending the Constitution were met by those gentle- men with the cry of usurpation, because Representatives from the rebellious states were not admitted to the floor. But why sent the Southern Representatives from this hall? They departed of their own ac- cord, going out one by one, and state by state. They picked up their hats and walk- ed out in disgust. They wanted no part in the legislation of the nation, and said they would never come back again. He thanked God they were not now here. They had no right to be heard. He did not de- sire to see the day when a traitor could ask to come back and have the same rights as those who upheld our banner in the field. The pending amendment did not go so far as he desired. He would like, for one, to say that no man who had raised his hand against the state should ever partici- pate in our legislation. The reason the South were not allowed Representatives was that the people had not shown a loyal spirit, such as would justify their admis- sion. They elect men more odious, while the latter ask for admission with their hands rocking with the blood of loyalists. Let them send men here, who during the war, have stood by the country, elect men who never went into treason, and reject the odious traitors. Never, so help him God, until then would he admit them."

There are some Northern Representa- tives in Congress whose claims upon the respect and confidence of their true-heart- ed constituents would be augmented if they could find courage to act and talk like this Representative from Kentucky.N. Y. I.

—Peace is usually found in the line of duty.

—The easiest and best way to ex- pand the chest is to have a good heart in it.

Why They Didn't go to
Church

A curious man who keeps a note of all he hears, has given to the public six months of excuses for not attending church. They are as follows:

Overslept myself ; could not dress in time ; too cold ; too hot ; too windy ; too dusty ; too wet ; too damp ; too sunny ; too cloudy ; don't feel disposed ; no time to myself ; look over my drawer ; put my papers to right ; letters to write to friends ; mean to take a walk ; going to take a ride ; tied to business six days a week ; no fresh air but on Sunday can't breathe in church ; always so dull ; feel a little feverish ; feel a little chilly ; feel a little sleepy ; feel a little lazy ; expect company to dinner ; got a headache ; intend nurs- ing my self to-day ; new bonnet not come home ; tore my muslin dress down stairs ; got a new novel, must be returned on Monday morning ; wasn't shaved in time ; don't like the liturgy, always pray- ing for the same thing ; don't like the extempore prayer ; don't like an organ, 'tis too noisy ; don't like the singing with- out music, makes me nervous ; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak ; dislike an extemporary sermon, it is too frothy ; can't bear a written sermon, it is too pro- sy ; nobody to-day but our own preacher, can't always listen to the same ministers ; don't like strangers ; can't keep awake while at church, fell asleep last time I was there, shan't risk it again.

Powers of a Bird's Song.

When we hear the song of the soaring lark, we may be sure that the entire at- mosphere between us and the bird is filled with pulses, or undulations, or waves, as they are often called, produced by the little songster's organ of voice. This or- gan is a vibrating instrument, resembling in principle the clarionet. Let us suppose that we hear the song of a lark, elevated to the hight of five hundred feet in the air. Before this is possible, the bird must have agitated a sphere of air one thou- sand feet in diameter—-that is to say, it must have communicated to seventeen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight tons of air, a motion sufficiently intense to be appreciated by our organ of hearing. -—TYNDALL'S GLACIERS OF THE ALPS.

Jamaica Riot.

In our last, under the above head, we gave an account of the execution of Mr. George H. Gordon. The Bri- tish Standard, of Dec. 8th, says : Mr. Gordon was clearly a man of no com- mon character. His piety was not only decided, but ardent, and his Christain charity was comprehensive of every section of the Church of God. His origin and history greatly intensi- ty the interest of the subject.**

The excellent Dr. King, of London, who made a lengthened sojourn in Ja- maica, was well acquainted with him, and has borne a noble testimony to his intelligence and his worth.

Dr. King says, he was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Kingston, and that every one, from the highest to the lowest, spoke of him with esteem. He says:

“Mr. Gordon was the son of a white gentleman, one of the custodies of the island, much esteemed for his dignified, hospitable, and obliging deportment. Like many in elevated position and of refined manners, he had children by his slaves—born to slavery as their heritage. This was the birthright of poor George Gordon. Being a very smart boy he taught himself with very little aid to read, write, and cast accounts. By his diligence and intelligence he continued to gather money, with which he bought his freedom. Once free himself, he gain- ed enough to emancipate his sisters, and afterwards sent them to Europe for their education—-first, I think, to London, and then to Paris. Through the reverses of the colony, the father from being very rich came to lose all, and the colored son bought his estate—-not, however, to de- prive him of it, but to leave him in oc- cupancy, surrounded by the comforts he had been accustomed to enjoy. So acted the son of the bondwoman when the feel- ings of his father's white wife and her children would not allow him to enter the paternal abode. Yet he always spoke to me with deferential regard for his fa- ther; and never uttered a disrespectful word regarding Mrs. Gordon. He was tenderly sensitive. One day as we were walking together, he became pensive and absorbed, and, after ceasing for a little to speak or listen, he requested me to step aside with him. He stopped before a slight elevation of the grass, and said to me, with much emotion, 'My mother is buried there; she was a negro and a slave, but she was a kind mother to me, and I loved her dearly.' As he uttered these words his tears trickled down upon her grave.” (*) What, in this age of the Christian era to say of a man in an elevated position having children by women in no sense his wives that he is of refined manners! Why, it is a hor- rible pervertion of language! Christ and his gospel pronounces such mere adventurers. Such refinement is but repugnant to abomination.)

The following letter from Mr, Gor- don to his wife, will be read with deep interest. One can hardly read the accounts given in the English pa- pers, of this outrageous action of the Jamaica Governor, without seeing that the spirit of hate engendered by slavery in the oppressor towards the oppressed, lies at the foundation of these horrid barbarities.

"My BELOVED WIFE—-General Nel- son has just been kind enough to inform me that the court-martial on Saturday last has ordered me to be hung, and that the sentence is to be executed in an hour hence; so that I shall be gone from this world of sin and sorrow.

"I regret that my worldly affairs are so deranged; but now it cannot be help- ed. I do not deserve this sentence, for I never advised or took part in any in- surrection. All I ever did was to re- commend the people who complained to seek redress in a legitimate way; and if in this I erred, or have been misrepre- sented, I do not think I deserve the ex- treme sentence. It is, however, the will of my Heavenly Father that I should thus suffer, in obeying His command to relieve the poor and needy, and to pro- tect, so far as I was able, the oppressed. And glory be to His name; and I thank Him that I suffer in such a cause. Glory be to God, the Father of our Lord Je- sus Christ; and I can say it is a great honor thus to suffer, for the servant can- not be greater than his Lord. I can now say with Paul, the aged. "The hour of my departure is come, and I am ready to be offered up. I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, and hence forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the right- eous Judge, shall give me." Say to all friends, an affectionate farewell; and that they must not grieve for me, for I die innocently. Assure Mr. Airy and all others of the truth of this. Comfort your heart. I certainly little expected this. You must do the best you can, and the Lord will help you; and do not be ashamed of the death your poor hus- band will have suffered. The judges seemed against me; and, from the rigid manner of the court, I could not get in all the explanation I intended. The man Anderson made an unfounded statement, and so did Gordon; but his testimony was different from the deposition. The judges took the former and erased the latter. It seems that I was to be sacrifi- ced. I know nothing of the man Bogle. I never advised him to the act or acts which have brought me to this end. Please write to Mr. Chamerovzow, Lord Brougham, and Messrs. Hencknell and Du Buisson."

"I did not expect, not being a rebel, that I should have been tried and dis- posed of in this way. I thought His Ex- cellency the Governor would have allow- ed me a fair trial, if any charge of sedi- tion or inflammatory language were fair- ly attributable to me; but I have no power of control. May the Lord be merciful to him."—-AN. MISSIONARY.