His master held him in very high esteem, he was worthy of being trusted, and was faithful to his charge. When his master came to see him he expressed his regret at the idea of losing him as a servant. As a son he was kind and obedient, and after his return from work would do anything in his power to assist his mother. He would often relieve his mother of the baby and nurse it for her. As a brother he was kind and affectionate, he assisted his younger brother in his learning during the week evenings. During the last two years before his death he manifested particular regard for the school, and Divine service as well, for his mother cannot recollect that he was ever away from the school twice, and the service three times every Sabbath during the last two years of his life, except one or two Sundays he was away at his grandfather's. He was very anxious to be awake in the service, and lest he should feel drowsy in the afternoon, he would wash himself, again at noon, and again at tea time, but if he was overcome with sleep during the interval of service as he was but weakly, he would say to his mother, Mother, you must awake me in time for the service at six o'clock.

For a long time before he cast in his lot with God's people, he appeared to be labouring under deep conviction, for in general he staid at the Sunday evening prayermeeting, and seeing his state, I asked him again and again to class, and set others to do the same; for sometime he declined, remarking that the matter required consideration; he seemed to be counting the cost, and wishful to weigh over the claims of religion before he came to a decision, however, he decided for God to live and die. But a short time before his decision, and but a few weeks before his death, he remarked to a young woman who was employed in the same place, that he would at once begin to lead a different life, in reply to which the young woman said, she could not see how he could mend his living for his life was everything that a strict moralist could or would require; but apparently he saw the necessity of a change of heart, the Holy Ghost was at work within him, giving him to see the importance of his soul's salvation, for he remarked to

the young woman that time was short, and that he might be near to eternity. In the beginning of the year 1854, he came to class, gave in his name; the first time of his coming his name was enrolled. He had not come long before the time for the renewal of tickets; that night when he got home he began to talk to his mother, and said what a blessed time he had had.

He then received a note on trial. The class met for tickets with another whose members were in the general advanced in life, and many remarked that he was a youth of promise; the expectations of some were high concerning him, little thinking he was to be soon cut off. After he began to meet in class he cut off companionship with all who were not like-minded. There was a choice companion who had begun to go to class without his knowledge, he began to decline his company, but he found he had begun to go too, he could address him in the language of the poet

If thy heart be as mine, if for Jesus it pine;

Come up into the chariot of love.

On Monday, the 5th of March, he came home from work and sat him down by the fire, his mother was a little alarmed. "What ever is to do with you, William; are you lamed?" A tear stealing down his cheek, he said, "No, mother; I am very poorly." The doctor was called in on the Tuesday morning; but when the doctor first saw him he seemed to think there was little hope of his life. On the Wednesday morning I saw him and was shocked to find him in such a state, apparently struck with death; it was the more shocking, having seen him twice at the school, thrice at the service, and at the prayer-meeting, on the Sunday: that passage of Scripture came powerfully to my mind-"] "In the midst of life we are in death."

He was very weak in body, but he appeared to be very composed in his mind; satisfied with the choice he had made, he expressed his resignation to the will of God; he was remarkably patient notwithstanding he was the subject of great pain. His mother says, she never heard a murmur escape his lips during his sickness. He said to

his mother-" Mother, it is no use praying for me, except I pray for myself." Much of his time was spent in prayer during his sickness. The father and mother entering into conversation on some remark made in prayer, "Yes, father," he said, "I hope it will be a warning." His mother thought it had reference to his sickness. The father said, "A warning for what?" He meekly replied, " To mind, father."

Continuing to grow weaker, and his end to all appearance being near, he was visited by many of his companions and associates, some of whom had not begun to meet in class; he urged them again, and again, to cast in their lot with God's people, to live virtuous lives, and thus secure a happy end and a glorious eternity. A day or two before his death he said to his mother, Mother, I hope I shall meet you in heaven, and my sister Emma," who died some time before when she was about four years old. As he drew nearer and nearer to his end, he seemed the better prepared, for a few hours before his death the pains of death must have been settling upon his vitals, he sang with all his might, "My God, the spring of all my joys," &c.; and then, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," &c. Thus giving another striking proof of the power of religion to support in the last conflict. Sometimes it requires effort to get persons to sing who are in health and prosperity; what then must it require to sing in the agonies of death? After his exercise in singing, he said to the person attending on him, "Oh, I am done; but I have Christ in my mind, and Christ in my heart!" These were the last words he gave utterance to so as to be understood. In the morning about four o'clock he breathed his last, March 15th, 1855, in the 17th year of his age.

His death was improved by the writer to the scholars, teachers, and friends, April 9th, 1855, from the words, "The days of his youth hast thou shortened," Ps. lxxxix. 45. His loss is much lamented by the school, the church, and the family, especially by his mother, but our loss is his infinite gain; we sorrow not as those without hope." Manchester, March 10th, 1856. J. HARGREAVES.

THE EYE AND GENIUS.

It is noticed by a writer who was present at a meeting of the British Association, that one feature was nearly universal among the philosophers there assembled; namely, a certain expansion of the head which habit teaches us to connect on all occasions with superior intellect. This is an observation which has been often made at the meetings of learned societies; and we have further remarked that the fact is more frequently to be noticed among men of science—as naturalists, experimental chemists, &c., than among purely literary men. Whatever may be said of the internal capacity, thickness of sculls is we apprehend no mark of mind either way. That of Buchanan, is said to have been as thin as paper. On the other hand the brain case of Porson, the first Greek scholar of modern times was discovered to be exceedingly thick. Gall, on being required to reconcile Porson's tenacious memory with so thick a receptacle for it, is said to have replied "I have nothing to do with how the idea got into such a scull; but once in, I will defy it ever to get out again."

If there be any feature in which genius always shows itself it is the eye which has been aptly called the index of the soul. "We have seen," says Mr. Jordon, “every other part of the human face divine without indications of the spirit within the mouth which spoke not of the talent possessed, and the brow that indicated no power of the capacious mind-but we never knew a superior nature which the eye did not proclaim." The Greeks and all the oriental nations regarded the brightness of the eye as a supernatural sign. The emerald eyes of their gods shone with mysterious splendour through the gloom of the Adytum. Availing themselves of this prevalent belief, impostors have sought to deceive men by an assumed lustre of countenance. Dr. Leydon tells us that John Makna, the founder of the Maknayah sect, hid himself from the public gaze, and covered his features with a veil, asserting that no eye could endure the glory of his countenance. To support this deception he prepared some turning mirrors, placing them

in such a situation that the rays fell upon the faces of those who approached him. Having taken these precautions he uncovered his face, and directing his votaries to draw nigh, the foremost were struck by the burning rays and retired exclaiming, We cannot look upon him, but he gazes upon us! Many tender and beautiful things have been said of eyes; yet how inferior to the sweet things uttered by themselves! A full eye seems to have been esteemed the most expressive. Such was the eye through which spoke the soul of Pericles. Haliburton declares that he would not give a piece of tobacco for the nose except to tell when a dinner is good; nor a farthing for the mouth except as a kennel for the tongue; but the eye-study that, says he, "and you will read any man's heart as plain as a book."

"Galileo's eyes were remarkably penetrating, so were those of Linnæus, which were hazel, and possessed that exquisite power of vision which naturalists are generally noted for. Alexander Wilson's eyes were quick, sharp, and intelligent, especially when he was engaged in conversation. This ornithologist visited, when in New York, the celebrated Thomas Paine, author of the "Rights of Man," and describes him as possessing a Bardolph kind of face; but the penetration and intelligence of his eye bespoke the man of genius and of the world. Shelley's eyes were noted for their beauty. Otway had a thoughtful speaking eye; Sir Humphrey Davy had a glowing eye, the finest and brightest, says Lockhart,' that ever I saw.' Colley Cibber's eyes were small but all vivacity and sparkling. When reciting any great deed, Sir Walter Scott's eye and his whole countenance would kindle with a congenial expression. A native of Weimar describing Goethe, says his eyes were like two lights. Hazlitt had an expressive eye. Coleridge's greenish-grey eyes were very quick, yet steady and penetrating. Audubon, speaking of Bewick, says, "he has a large head, with fine sparkling eyes placed farther apart than those of any other man that I have ever seen." To draw a phrenological inference* from this observation, it may be * We have no great faith in "Phrenological inferences."-Editor.