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The design of this work is to furnish a popular dictionary of Unniversal Knowledge. It presents accurate and copious information on Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, Mathematics, Mechanics, Engineering, the History and Description of Machines, Law, Political Economy, Music, etc., etc.

In the Natural Sciences the work gives a complete record of the progress of Chemistry, Geology, Botany, Mineralogy, etc., during the last 50 years.

The exposition of the principles of Physiology, Anatomy, and Hygiene is prepared by eminent writers of the medical profession.

In History it gives a narrative of the principal events in the world's annals.

In Geography and Ethnology the brilliant results of the original investigation of the present century are embodied.

In Biography it not only records the lives of men eminent in the past, but devotes a large space to sketches of distinguished living persons, prepared by writers, who from locality, personal acquaintance, or special research, are most competent to do them complete and unbiased justice. Agriculture in all its branches receives careful attention.

The Industrial Arts, and that Practical Science, which bears on the necessities of every day life, such as Ventilation, the Heating of Houses, Food, etc., are treated of with a thoroughness proportionate to their importance.

The work is intended to be one of practical utility, for every-day consultation. It abstains from doctrinal and sectional discussions, but the History of Religious sects is as far as possible written by distinguished members of the different denominations respectively.

It is the aim of the editors to produce an original work, so far as its nature will permit, one which shall contain all information of general interest to be found in the best modern Cyclopædias, yet which shall have a character of its own, giving an original dress to those articles which have already been treated of in other works, and also presents a great mass of subjects, which have never before been brought before the public in an accessible form. Elias Barr & Co., Lancaster, are agents.

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DIES IRAE.

In the introductory note to the "Dies Irae," in the last No. of the Guardian we inadvertantly fell into a mistake in stating that verse 13 and 14 contained a prayer to Mary. The translation is ambigious, and may refer to Mary-and does so most directly as well as to Christ. In the original the prayer is to Christ. Our notice was made on the translation, without at the time examining the original, which would at once have cleared up the ambiguity of the translation. "To Mary, thou didst grant remittance," is the sense which the translator no doubt intended the passage to bear.

CLOSING WORDS BY THE

EDITOR.

THE guardian is ten years old. This number completes its tenth year. Ten years, though it does not seem long when we look back, it seems a long time when we look forward over ten years to come. Ten years, it is true, are a comparatively small part of a long human life, yet it is a pretty long time for a periodical to live, especially in these days of change and hasty notions.

The Guardian is ten years old. We have, in this time seen a number of Magazines of much greater pretensions in their starting out, go to their graves. Quite a number also, since the birth of this, have begun to live. Our prayer is that these may prosper, and that the good Lord will "do good to those that be good." When we look at the years of many of our friendly Exchanges, we are made to feel quite venerable among the magazines. We say to ourselves, with a little of the excusable pride of age: Ten years old!"

But after all, the question of age is not the greatest. It is greater to be wise than to be old. Gray hairs are a crown of glory only when they are found in the way of righteousness. Is the Guardian wise? Has it profited by a ten years experience? This is a greater question. We felt a litpleasant a few days ago when a venerable paper-the Lutheran Observer-which has exchanges not a few, was pleased to say of our Guardian, that it is the best Magazine among his exchanges. We feared, however, the editor may have been misled by a kind and generous heart, to say better things than we deserve. Yet if it should be even so! This we said to ourselves, and took fresh heart to make this praise true.

What do our readers say? Is it the best Magazine they receive? or at least are they satisfied with it? This many hundreds have silently declared, by remaining subscribers year after year. Thanks for their kind encouragement! We cordially invite them to go with us another year.

We shall greet you shortly with the first number of the new year. The Prospectus of the new volume will be found on the cover of the present Number. Will our friends use it, and rejoice our heart with lists of new subscribers? Certainly, they will do in this respect as they have done before. We await the result.

Meanwhile, a happy Christmas, and a happy New Year, and many thanks to all, known and unknown, who have been kind to the Guardian. May all safely pass the perils of life; and after its toils and tears, its joys and smiles, happily reach that immortal land, where the crown and the palm shall be attained by all the victors, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord.

HEAVEN.

"The land upon whose blissful shore

There rests no shadow-falls no stain;
Where those who meet shall part no more,
And those long parted meet again."

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