all such as handle the harp and organ, and Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron.

And now, my dear children, in endeavouring to tell you some of the blessings connected with the third day, the subject is so extensive, that I hardly know where to begin. For look around on every side, and we are surrounded with its mercies; 1st, as it regards the mineral kingdom, (and this includes all the metals,) what could we do without iron and coal? all our manufactories depend on these productions of the earth (and we know of no substitute for them); for though indeed the natives of the South Sea Islands may make a rude substitute of bone and hard wood for their axes, war-instruments, and fish-hooks, yet bone and wood would make but poor steam-boilers, rail-roads, &c. Look at the prodigious steam-boiler of the Great Britain;* nay, look at the ship itself, like a massive island of Iron, and then look at the main-spring of a watch, or that delicate and fine needle that little Mary works with: from the iron originally taken from the stone, melted down by the agency of the coal, man has been enabled to bring about these different results; for although Steel has an addition of carbon to refine it, yet still Iron is the main thing. Indeed, as I remarked before, there is no end to the use of this valuable metal; and therefore to meet this demand, whilst the mines of other ores are comparatively rare, this abounds. Imagine a rail-road made of gold— travelling by that plan would soon be at an end. But as I wish to • See Appendix.

give you a brief account of the principal metals separately, I will not enlarge any more in this place.

But, my dear children, whilst the heart of the earth thus supplies all kinds of metals for our machinery, the surface supplies all kinds of materials to be worked by that machinery: for not only does the earth thus supply us with clothing, but with a variety that is boundless. It may be called

1. Our storehouse for food;
2. Our wardrobe for clothing;

3. Our dispensary for medicine;

4. And our great forest for all kinds of wood for the artificer, from the mountain oak, of which our ships are built, to the beautiful rosewood tree of which dear Harriet's work-box is made.

Having thus endeavoured to introduce the third day generally to you, I will now seek to go a little into detail, dividing the subject into the contents of the earth beneath its surface, and the productions of the earth above its surface; and under the first head, I will tell you (1,) of the precious gems; (2,) of the metals; (3,) of the rocks, slate, and stone; (4,) coals and salt: and under the second general head, I will enlarge on the principal trees, herbs, and grass-1, for food; 2, for clothing; 3, for medicine; 4, for the arts.

I. THE PRECIOUS GEMS.

THE DIAMOND.*-This was known to the ancients as the adamant, and is the most precious of all the gems of the earth, one stone alone being valued at 5,000,000l. sterling. This stone now belongs to the court of Russia, but was once the eye of an idol in India. The finest diamonds have been found at Golconda, Visna, and Borneo, and some of an inferior quality in the Brazils. The former are called oriental, or diamonds of the east: the latter, occidental, or diamonds of the west. The The poor slaves work for these quite naked, lest they should secrete the stones. Diamonds are ornamental for the diadems of kings and princes, and hence they generally sparkle as the peerless gem of the crown. The diamond pulverised is used as its own polish, as it is only by itself that it can be cut or polished. It is also most useful in the more common art of cutting glass. Diamonds are likewise combustible, and can be burnt to ashes, and reduced to charcoal; and here they afford a striking picture of man in the zenith of his glory, and the depth of his humiliation. The diamond was one of the precious stones that was on the High Priest's breast-plate, and had engraven on it the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel: but on this I will enlarge in my next.

THE RUBY is a red sparkling gem of the first rank among precious

All the precious stones which are printed with capital letters were in the breast-plate of Aaron.

stones; it is found in Pegu and Ceylon, also in Hungary and in Brazil. When the Ruby exceeds 20 carats or 80 grains, it is called a Carbuncle. This was the first stone in the breast-plate of the High Priest. EMERALD; a green, brilliant, precious stone, exceedingly hard, found in the East and in Peru.

TOPAZ is the third order of precious stones, and is of a yellowish gold colour. It is found in each quarter of the globe, India, Ethiopia, Bohemia, and Peru.

THE CHRYSOLITE is the Topaz of the ancients; it is the least hard of all the gems, and is found in Egypt, Ceylon, and the Brazils.

THE SAPPHIRE is of an azure or beautiful sky colour; it is found in Ceylon, Brazil, Bohemia, and Silesia; sapphires brought from the latter place are of less value than the oriental or eastern ones.

THE AMETHYST is of a violet colour, bordering on blue;--found in the East and in Europe.

THE BERYL is a beautiful stone, like the diamond, of a pale green colour, and is sometimes mistaken for it; it is found in Ceylon, Pegu, the East, and Bohemia.

AGATE. Many stones bear this name, but they are all generally composed of quartz, with varied tinges of colours, veins, and spots, but they never exhibit orange or green; they are finest in Germany.

CHALCEDONY is semi-transparent, very hard, and of a milky grey colour, said to be originally found in Chalcedon in Asia;—found in Saxony, Silesia, and the British Isles.

THE ONYX is an agate of a greyish brown colour. White zones or girdles are essential to the onyx. This gem was on the shoulderpieces of the ephod of the High Priest, as well as on the breast-plate.

THE OPAL is an exceedingly beautiful stone, with an amazing diversity of colours on a ground of white. Pliny mentions one in his time that had sixty colours. It is found in Mexico, Hungary, and the British Islands.

The Jacinth is a purple gem, mingled with a deep yellow, approaching to a flame colour. It is found in the East, and Bohemia and Portugal.

The Carnelian, a species of Chalcedony, is generally of a blood-red colour, but sometimes white; it is easily engraved on, and receives a brilliant polish. It is found near Babylon, also in Hindostan, and in Bohemia.

Crystal may be reckoned among the precious gems: it is found in India and Europe.*

Pearl is a hard, cream-white, round gem-like substance, of considerable lustre, found in shell-fish, both of the mussel and oyster kind; and although an animal production, it is reckoned among the gems. The oyster in which the pearl is most generally found inhabits both the American and Indian seas, and is sometimes met with on the coast of Scotland. The old fish yield the best pearls.

The use of most of the precious gems is not very manifest: they * See Appendix.