strikingly accordant with the result he had obtained. Some variations had occurred in the results produced by the early calculators, arising from the insufficiency of data; but it is now generally established that the ratio of the diameters is about 299 to 300, and that consequently the polar diameter is about twenty-six miles shorter than the equatorial. It is easily proved by experiment that a body in rotation, if its materials be in any measure yielding, has a tendency to swell out or extend itself all around in the middle, and to flatten at the ends of the axis on which it turns; and such is the case with our earth. Whether it attained its present shape by this process, as some think, or whether it was originally so formed, and then made to revolve on its shorter axis, as others suppose, it shows in either case the wisdom and the skill of Him who SO "ordered the earth" that "it abideth" a safe and convenient dwelling-place for man in his state of mortality.

The circumference of the earth is about twenty-five thousand miles, its diameter 7,957 miles, and its superficial content about two hundred millions of square miles. It is impossible to determine exactly what portion of the earth's surface is covered by the ocean; but it is computed that at least two-thirds of it is water and only one-third land.

Its Structure.-Considered as a whole, the globe of the earth may be distinguished into three parts or regions; (1.) The external part, or slighter crust; being that from which vegetables spring, and animals are nourished. (2.) The middle or intermediate part, which may be called the thicker and more substantial crust, which contains fossils and minerals, and extends farther than human labour ever yet penetrated. (3.) The internal, or central part, which is utterly unknown to us, though it probably contains a large mass of metallic substances; for it has been found, by calculation, that the mean density of the whole earth is nearly double that of common stone, or about five times that of water.

The external part of the globe either exhibits larger inequalities, as mountains and valleys, or it is plain and level, as in flat countries and extensive prairies, or dug

into channels, fissures, and beds, for rivers, lakes, and seas. These inequalities in the face of the earth are supposed to have arisen from a rupture or subversion of the earth by the force either of subterraneous fires or waters. In this part of the globe there appear various strata, supposed to be the sediments of several floods, the waters of which being replete with matter of divers kinds, as they dried up or oozed through, deposited these different matters, which in time hardened into strata of stone, sand, coal, clay, and other substances. It is certain that there are causes now and always in operation which are producing great local changes in different regions of the earth.

Its Attraction. This has been already noticed as a general property. From various experiments we know, also, that its attractive force at the surface is such that bodies fall through a space of 16 feet in the first second of time; from whence the force at any other place, either above or below the surface, becomes known: for the force at any part within it is directly as its distance from the centre; but the force at any part without it, reciprocally as the square of its distance from the centre. But there is a peculiar species of attraction, distinguished by the name of magnetism, which the earth is supposed to possess, and to which the direction of the needle in the mariner's compass has been ascribed.

It is impossible to observe attentively the face of the earth without being struck with its beauty and fertility, or to reflect upon its various productions, both on the surface and beneath it, without being thankful to the Author of our being for His goodness to a rebellious race, for whose temporary sojourn He has provided a habitation so replete with mercies. It is true the ground is so far "cursed" for the sin of man, as to render it in general indispensable for him to "eat his bread by the sweet of his brow;" yet it is so far "blessed" by that gracious Being who causes His sun to shine" and His influence to descend upon it, that by the industry and skill of man, his wants are "filled with food and gladness." The varied landscape, the hills, the valleys, the streams, the forests, the verdant meadows, the fruitful fields, the exhilarating

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air, and the numerous animated beings which surround him, are so many incentives in the breast of a pious man to the liveliest emotions of admiration and gratitude. Happy they who acknowledge and love the Creator in all the works of his hands; and still more happy they who by Divine grace have obtained a title to an inheritance in heaven, when "the earth and all the works of it shall be burned up."

Exercise in Spelling-XXIV.

Collect the principal words in each paragraph of the preceding lesson. Divide each word, mark its proper accentuation, and give its meaning according to the context.

THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS.

BY JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT,

Author of "A Story of Rimini,” "Sir Ralph Esher," "An Autobiography," and many Works.

Born October 19, 1784; Died August 29, 1859.

To be read in quick time, with spirit and animation.

King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport, And one day, as his lions strove, sat looking on the court: The nobles filled the benches round, the ladies by their side, And 'mongst them Count de Lorge, with one he hoped to

make his bride :

And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show, Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.

There ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws;

They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws;

With wallowing might and stifled roar, they rolled one on another,

Till all the pit, with sand and main, was in a thund'rous smother;

The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing through

the air:

Said Francis then, "Good gentlemen, we're better here than there!"

De Lorge's love o'erheard the king, a beauteous, lively dame,

With smiling lips, and sharp bright eyes, which always seem'd the same :

She thought, "The Count, my lover, is brave as brave can

be:

He surely would do desperate things to show his love to me!

King, ladies, lovers, all look on the chance is wondrous

fine;

I'll drop my glove to prove his love; great glory will be mine!

She dropped her glove to prove his love; then looked on him and smiled;

He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild : The leap was quick; return was quick; he soon regained

his place;

Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face!

"Well done!” cried Francis, "bravely done!" and he rose from where he sat :

"No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that!"

Exercise in Dictation-XXI.

There are none in the world so wickedly inclined but that a religious instruction and bringing up may fashion anew and reform them; nor any so well-disposed whom, the reins being let loose, the continual fellowship and familiarity and the examples of dissolute men may not corrupt and deform. Vessels will ever retain a savour of their first liquor; it being equally difficult either to cleanse the mind once corrupted or to extinguish the sweet savour of virtue first received when the mind was yet tender, open, and easily seasoned.

THE MOLE.

sub-ter-ra'-ne-an.......under de-vel-oped........brought to

mech'-an-ism.....contrivance, pre-ser-va-tion.........safety,