caused to himself and his friends, and that now, instead of meeting to talk politics, they met to read the Word of God together, and that in the volume of truth they saw the true remedy for all the ills that afflicted their country. After the heartfelt expression of many thanks, the shoemaker concluded by saying, "As a mark of my gratitude, for your coming at the risk of your own life to bring me the precious Bible, I have brought you, sir, a pair of shoes, which I hope you will accept."

"Well," said the good minister, "it is very kind of you; but I fear your good intentions may not be of much service, for the shoes will probably not fit me."

"Oh! yes, sir, I think they will, if you will try them." The trial was made, and the shoes were found an excellent fit; and on the man's being asked how he had guessed the size so accurately, he replied, "I knew, sir, after you left my house, you had to pass over some soft clay, so I followed you, and from your footprints I took the size of your foot, which enabled me to make you the shoes, which | I hope you will wear as a mark of my gratitude for the book you gave me."

Surely there is hope for poor Spain, when it is thus that her sons appreciate the Word of God, though for centuries deprived of its light and truth. May the Waldensian motto be fulfilled-' Post tenebras lux' (after darkness, light). G. T. E.

CELEBRATED COLLIERS AND MINERS. GEORGE STEPHENSON, the celebrated civil engineer and the father of the present Robert Stephenson, was, in the early part of his life, a miner. He was born in a collier village near Newcastle, in 1781. His father was an engine tenter at a pit, and George was taken when very young to earn twopence a-day as an engine boy. In due time he became strong enough to work underground as a collier's assistant; and after serving such an apprenticeship as is¦ usual, became a pit labourer, afterwards a breaksman. In

this humble capacity he worked steadily, soberly, and cheerfully; drawing the attention of his immediate superiors by his intelligence and readiness of resource when anything went wrong in the pit and required amendment. He was also remarked for a vigilant habit of observation, and a constant regard for the interests of his employers. The engine at the pit mouth becoming unworkable, and the regular engineer having pronounced its condition hopeless, Stephenson came forward and offered to repair it. This he did completely, and he was forthwith installed by his employers in the place of engine-man. From this he rose by various steps to the important position he ultimately occupied. He does not appear to have had any school education, and it is said that he could not readily read till he was twenty. He was a self-educated man, feeling his own deficiency he devoted himself to mental improvement by observation, experiment, reading, and study, at all times when he had the opportunity, and thus became useful, wealthy, and famous. About the same time that Sir Humphrey Davy invented the safety lamp in London, Stephenson at Newcastle made one also. But his chief fame rests upon his improvements in locomotive engines and railways, and upon the lines of railway which he planned and carried out. He died at his residence, called Tapton House, near Chesterfield, August 22, 1848, aged 67. In the central hall of the Euston Square terminus of the North Western Railway, there has recently been placed a marble statue, by Baily, in honour of this man who having fought manfully the battle of life, raised himself from obscurity to renown, and became the benefactor of his country and his age.

GEORGE ELLIOT, Esq., of Houghton Hall, Durham, viewer of the extensive mines of the Marchioness of Londonderry, a gentleman to whom the nation is indebted for a mass of most valuable evidence on coal mines, given before various committees of the House of Lords, and the House of Commons-whose untiring efforts for promoting the domestic comfort and social elevation of the colliers, have secured for him the affection of tens of thousands in

the colliery districts, was originally a trapper boy in one of the very coal pits of which he is now the viewer! By industry, perseverance, and "redeeming the time," he has attained a position in society, which secures for him the regard of the nobles of the land.

WILLIAM LLEWELLYN, a celebrated collier of Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire, who died December 2nd, 1773, aged 86 years.

He worked as a collier all his life for the support of himself and family; he was passionately fond of the study of astronomy-he frequently spent whole nights in stargazing and the study of the heavenly bodies. He saved thirty pounds in his youth, and spent the whole in books of science. He read the works of Newton, Halley, and other great writers. He made telescopes and microscopes of every kind-could calculate eclipses to the greatest nicety. He made an almanack, and when he died left behind him a name that will be long remembered.

Several of his descendants are now moving in highly respectable circles.

The following poetry was written by a friend after his death :

EPITAPH

For WILLIAM LLEWELLYN, the learned collier of Mangotsfield, in Gloucestershire.

Beneath this humble turf there lies
An honest collier, learn'd and wise;
His mind by love of knowledge fired,
To wisdom more than wealth aspired:
And thought it was a happy lot
To dwell with knowledge in a cot.
To latest life from early youth,
His search was philosophic truth,
And oft from nightly rest he stole
To seek the charmer of his soul
In nature's book; by nature taught
He learned to think as Newton thought;
And with an astronomic eye

Measured the rolling orbs on high.
He knew the courses, motions, reign,
Of all the planetary train,

And with precision just and clear

Marked out the order of the year;
To him were nature's treasure's known,
And science made them all his own.
What though not wealth nor honour'd birth
Distinguished him from men of earth-
What though no state nor 'lotted name
Enrolled him in the list of fame-

His soul aspired to nobler things,
And left the world to lords and kings;
Content to enjoy the better part,
A knowing head and honest heart.

Accept, O sage, the tribute due,

To worth so simply great as thine;
And let the learn'd with candour view
What friendship offers at this shrine.

VARIETIES.

SUPPOSED RUINS OF THE TOWER OF BABEL.

The Journal de Constantinople publishes a letter on certain archæological discoveries, made by M. Place, French Consul at Mosul. Of a peculiar interest are those passages in it which refer to the ruin of the edifice supposed to be the Tower of Babel. The remains of this structure (of the eight stories of which two are left) afford at present a majestic sight, and are visible at a considerable distance. A square of 194 metres forms the base. The bricks of the pile are burnt from the purest clay, almost white, and covered all over with inscriptions. In the vicinity there is a spring of bitumen, flowing sometimes so abundantly that it forms a regular stream. This agrees with the 11th chapter of Genesis. Different jewels, intaglios, and a great number of coins, have been found among the ruins.

M. Place has taken series of interesting photographic views of the ruins.

A NEWSPAPER IN HEBREW.

A political newspaper written and printed in the Hebrew language, may be classed among the "Curiosities of Literature." Such a paper is now appearing at Johannisberg, in the Baltic provinces of Prussia. It is edited by Rabbi S. Silbermann, of Syck, under the title of "Ha Magid" (which means "The Informer"), and is published weekly at a very low price. Hebrew printing-offices existed in Russia and Poland before this, but were closed by the Czar Nicholas as promoting, by the introduction of a Hebrew literature, the national isolation of the Jews, and thus hindering their Russification. This measure has been abolished by the present Emperor, and "Ha Magid” is, therefore, imported from Prussia without any difficulty, and finds a large circulation among the Russian and Polish Hebrews.

INTERPRETATION OF SOME SCRIPTURE NAMES.

At a meeting of the Syro-Egyptian society, held March 10th, Dr. W. Camps in the chair, Mr. Sharpe read a paper "On the Egyptian names in the Bible," explaining from the Egyptian language that Pharoah was the king; Moses was son of the water; Potipherah was devoted to the king: Joseph's name, Zaphnaith-paaneah, was Joseph the Phonician. He further pointed out that Joseph probably came into Egypt shortly after the expulsion of the Phoenician shepherds, and while all shepherds were an abomination in the eyes of the Egyptians; and that Moses lived shortly after Lower Egypt, by a change of dynasty, had fallen under the sway of Upper Egypt.

THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

1 Peter i. 2:"Unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." This sprinkling has respect to the rite of the legal purification by the sprinkling of blood, and that appositely; for these rites of sprinkling and blood did all point out this blood and this sprinkling, and exhi