tured in once more with him, about fifty paces, anxiously and cautiously defcending, by a steep and dangerous way Finding, however, that we came to a precipice which led into a fpacious amphitheatre, (if I may fo call it,) ftill deeper than any other part, we returned, and being provided with a ladder, flambeau, and other things to expedite our defcent, our whole company, man by man, ventured into the fame opening; and defcending one after another, we at last saw ourselves all together in the most magnificent part of the cavern."

SECTION IV.

The Grotto of Antiparos continued.

"OUR candles being now all lighted up, and the whole place completely illuminated, never could the eye be prefented with a more glittering, or a more magnificent fcene. The whole roof hung with folid ificles, tranfparent as glafs, yet folid as marble. The eye could fcarcely reach the lofty and noble ceiling the fides were regularly formed with fpars; and the whole prefented the idea of a magnificent theatre, illuminated with an immenfe profufion of lights. The floor confifted of folid marble: and, in feveral places, magnificent columns, thrones, altars, and other objects, appeared, as if nature had defigned to mock the curiofities of art. Our voices, upon speaking or finging, were redoubled to an aftonishing loudnefs; and upon the firing of a gun, the noise and reverberations were almost deafening. In the midft of this grand amphitheatre rose a concretion of about fifteen feet high,

that, in fome measure, refembled an altar from which, taking the hint, we caufed mafs, to be celebrated there. The beautiful columns, that shot up round the altar, appeared like candlesticks; and many other natural objects reprefented the cuftomary ornaments of this rite.

"Below even this fpacious grotto, there feemed another cavern; down which I ventured with my former mariner, and defcended about fifty paces by means of a rope. I at laft arrived at a small spot of level ground, where the bottom appeared different from that of the amphitheatre, being composed of foft clay, yielding to the preffure, and in which I thrust a stick to the depth of fix feet. In this, however, as above, numbers of the most beautiful crystals were formed; one of which, particularly, refembled a table. Upon our egrefs from this amazing cavern, we perceived a Greek infcription upon a rock at the mouth, but fo obliterated by time, that we could not read it diftinctly. It seemed to import that one Antipater, in the time of Alexander, had come hither; but whether he penetrated into the depths of the cavern, he does not think fit to inform us." This account of fo beautiful, and striking a scene, may ferve to give us fome idea of the fubterraneous wonders of nature.

3

GOLDSMITH.

SECTION V.

Earthquake at Caṭanea.

ONE of the earthquakes moft particularly defcribed in hiftory, is that which happened in the year 1693; the damages of which were chiefly felt

in Sicily, but its motion was perceived in Germany, France, and England. It extended to a circumference of two thousand fix hundred leagues; chiefly affecting the fea-coafts, and great rivers; more perceivable alfo upon the mountains, than in the valleys. Its motions were fo rapid, that perfons who lay at their length were toffed from fide to fide, as upon a rolling billow. The walls were dafhed from their foundations; and no fewer than fifty-four cities, with an incredible number of villages, were either deftroyed or greatly damaged. The city of Catanea, in particular, was utterly overthrown. A traveller who was on his way thither, perceived, at the distance of fome miles, a black cloud, like night, hanging over the place. The fea, all of a fudden, began to roar ; Mount Etna to fend forth great fpires of flame; and foon after a fhock enfued, with a noife as if all the artillery in the world had been at once discharged. Our traveller, being obliged to alight inftantly, felt himfelf raised a foot from the ground; and turning his eyes to the city, he with amazement faw nothing but a thick cloud of duft in the air. The birds flew about aftonished; the fun was darkened; the beafts ran howling from the hills; and, although the fhock did not continue above three minutes, yet near nineteen thousand of the inhabitants of Sicily perifhed in the ruins. Catanea, to which city the describer was travelling, feemed the principal fcene of ruin; its place only was to be found; and not a footstep of its former magnificence was to be feen remaining..

GOLDSMITH.

SECTION VI.

Creation.

In the progrefs of the Divine works and government, there arrived a period, in which this earth was to be called into existence. When the fignal moment, predeftined from all eternity, was come, the Deity arofe in his might; and with a word created the world.What an illuftrious moment was that, when from non-existence, there fprang at once into being, this mighty globe, on which fo many millions of creatures now dwell!— No preparatory meafures were required. No long circuit of means, was employed." He spake; and it was done He commanded; and it ftood fast.. The earth was at firft without form, and void ; and darkness was on the face of the deep." The Almighty furveyed the dark abyfs; and fixed bounds to the feveral divifions of nature. He faid, "Let there be light; and there was light." Then appeared the fea, and the dry land. The mountains rofe; and the rivers flowed. and moon began their courfe in the fkies. Herbs and plants cloathed the ground. The air, the earth, and the waters, were ftored with their respective inhabitants. At laft, man was made after the image of God., He appeared, walking with countenance erect; and received his Creator's benediction, as the Lord of this new world. The Almighty beheld his work when it was finished; and pronounced it GOOD. Superior beings faw with

N

The fun

wonder this new acceffion to exiftence.

"The

morning stars fang together; and all the fons of

God fhouted for joy."

SECTION VII.

BLAIR.

On Charity.

It confifts

CHARITY is the fame with benevolence or love; and is the term uniformly employed, in the NewTeftament, to denote all the good affections which we ought to bear towards one another. not in fpeculative ideas of general benevolence, floating in the head, and leaving the heart, as fpeculations too often do, untouched and cold. Neither is it confined to that indolent good nature, which makes us reft fatisfied with being free from inveterate malice, or ill-will to our fellow-creatures, without prompting us to be of fervice to any. True charity is an active principle. It is not properly a fingle virtue; but a difpofition refiding in the heart, as a fountain whence all the virtues of benignity, candour, forbearance, generofity, compaffion, and liberality, flow as fo many native ftreams. From general good-will to all, it extends its influence particularly to thofe with whom we ftand in neareft connexion, and who are directly within the fphere of our good offices. From the country or community to which we belong, it defcends to the fmaller affociations of neighbourhood, relations, and friends; and fpreads itself over the whole circle of focial and domeftic life. I mean not that it imports a promifcuous undiftinguishing affection, which gives every man an