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its shores likewise presented to my view the theatre of the 'miracles of my religion."

5. Judea is the only country in the world that revives in the traveller the memory of human affairs and of celes tial things; and which, by this combination, produces in the soul a feeling which no other region is capable of exciting.

Note. The Dead Sea, or Lake Asphaltites, was anciently called the Sea of Sodom. It lies in the south of Palestine, and is supposed to cover the ground of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. Jericho was formerly the first city of Canaan, but at present consists of a few huts only. It is 20 miles east of Jordan.

THE LION.

1. THE lion abounds most in the interior parts of Africa, where he exercises his reign over the inferior animals : he is also a native of the hottest parts of Asia. A lion of the largest size is four or five feet in height, and eight or nine feet in length. The form and gait of this striking quadruped are bold and majestic.

2. His head is large, his ears rounded, his eye-brows ample, his eye-balls round and fiery, and glowing, on the least irritation, with peculiar lustre. His chest is shaggy, his tail bushy at the extremity, and a yellowish brown mane, nearly two feet long, flows on the side of his head and neck.

3. His predominant colour is pale tawny, with a lighter shade, approaching to white, on the flanks. The structure of his frame, and his astonishing movements, bespeak a singular combination of bones, nerves, and muscles, destined to act with a wonderful effect in pursuing and destroying the animals on which he feeds.

4. Notwithstanding his portly dimensions, he is so far from appearing clumsy or unwieldy, that he may justly be regarded as a model of strength and activity. When provoked, he erects his mane, darts fire from his eye-balls, contracts the muscles of his cheeks and forehead into hi

deous wrinkles, shows his formidable teeth, and exhibits a spectacle of savage grandeur, which beggars description...

5. As he puts his mouth to the ground when he roars, the sound is equally propagated to a considerable distance on all sides, so that it is impossible to discover the precise spot whence it issues. This circumstance increasing the alarm, the intimidated animals fly backwards and forwards; and, in the dark, they often run to the very place from which the noise proceeds, and which they are so anxious to avoid.

6. The habitation of the lion is usually in the thickest part of the forest; and he is seldom seen by day, as too much light is apt to incommode him; but, on the approach of night, he quits his den, and prowls about for prey, roaring hideously, and terrifying most of the animals within his hearing.

7. A single stroke of his paw will break a horse's neck; the sweep of his tail will throw a strong man on the ground; and he can carry off, with apparent ease, an ox or a buffalo, when lightened of its entrails. He does not openly attack any animal, unless provoked, or oppressed with hunger but, in the latter case, he is said to fear no danger, and to be repelled by no resistance.

8. A single lion in the desert has been known to attack a whole caravan; and if, after a violent and obstinate conflict, he finds himself weakened, he would retreat fighting, and still presenting his front to the enemy. But when acquainted with man, and the power of his resources, he loses his natural fortitude, and is so conscious of his infe riority, that, in populous districts, he has been seen to fly before women and children.

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9. His usual method of taking his prey is to spring or throw himself on it, with one vast bound, from the place of his concealment: if, however, he misses his aim, he seldom attempts another spring at the same object, but deliberately returns to the thicket in which he lay in ambush.

10. When he seizes his victim, he knocks it down, and seldom bites till he inflicts the mortal blow, which he generally accompanies with a tremendous roar. He seems to prefer the flesh of a Hottentot to that of an European, probably because the former is not encumbered with clothes.

11. The horse, next to the Hottentot, is reputed his fa

vourite prey; and the elephant and camel are both highly relished. The flesh of this animal is often eaten by the negroes. His skin, which was formerly a robe of distinction for heroes, is now used by the Africans as a mantle or a bed.

12. Many anecdotes have been related indicative of the noble, generous, and grateful dispositions of this king of beasts. When in a state of confinement, many lions have manifested much docility, affection, and mildness; but the utmost care and attention of the keepers have failed in subduing the natural fierceness of others.

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1. THE following extract, which refers to the sufferings of the French army, during its campaign in Russia, exhibits a graphic description of one of the most appalling scenes in military history :

2. "The winter now overtook us; and by filling up the measure of each individual's sufferings, put an end to that mutual support which had hitherto sustained us.-Hence'forward the scene presented only a multitude of isolated and individual struggles.

3. "The best conducted no longer respected themselves. All fraternity of arms was forgotten, all the bonds of society were torn asunder-excess of misery had brutalized them. A devouring hunger had reduced these unfortunate wretches to the mere brutal instinct of self-preservation, to which they were ready to sacrifice every other consideration.

4. "The rude and barbarous climate seemed to have communicated its fury to them. Like the worst of savages, the strong fell upon the weak, and despoiled them; they eagerly surrounded the dying, and often even waited not for their last sigh before they stripped them.

5. "When a horse fell, they rushed upon it, tore it in pieces, and snatched the morsel from each other's mouth, like a troop of famished wolves. However, a considerable number still preserved enough of moral feeling not to seek their safety in the ruin of others, but this was the last effort of their virtue.

6. "If an officer or a comrade fell along side them, or under the wheels of the cannon, it was in vain that he im

plored them, by a common country, religion, and cause, to succour him. He obtained not even a look: all the frozen inflexibility of the climate had passed into their hearts; its rigidity had contracted their sentiments as well as their features.

7. "All, except a few chiefs, were absorbed by their own sufferings, and terror left no place for pity. That egotism which is often produced by excessive prosperity, results also from extreme adversity-but in which latter case it is more excusable, the former being voluntary, the latter forced; one a crime of the heart, the other an impulse of instinct, and altogether physical.

8. "And indeed, upon the occasion here alluded to, there was much of excuse, for to stop for a moment was to risk your own life. In this scene of universal destruction, to hold out your hand to your comrade, or your sinking chief, was an admirable effort of generosity. The slightest act of humanity was an instance of sublime devotion.

9. "When unable, from total exhaustion, to proceed, they halted for a moment, winter, with his icy hands, seized upon them for his prey. It was then that, in vain these unfortunate beings, feeling themselves benumbed, endeavoured to rouse themselves.

10. "Voiceless, insensible, and plunged in stupor, they moved a few paces, like machines; but the blood, already freezing in their veins, flowed languidly through their hearts, and, mounting to their heads, made them stagger like drunken men.

11. "From their eyes, become red and inflamed from the continual view of the dazzling snow, and the want of sleep, there burst forth red tears of blood, accompanied with profound sighs; they looked at the sky, at us, and upon the earth, with a fixed and haggard state of consternation this was their last farewell, or rather reproach to that barbarous nature that tortured them.

12. "Thus dropping upon their knees, and afterwards upon their hands, their heads moving for an instant or two from right to left, while from their gasping lips escaped the most agonizing moans; at length they fell prostrate upon the snow, staining it with a gush of living blood, and all their miseries terminated.

13. "Their comrades passed over them without even stepping aside, dreading to lengthen their march by a sin

gle pace-they even turned not their heads to look at them, for the slightest motion of the head to the right or left was attended with torture, the hair of their heads and beards being frozen into a solid mass.

14. "Scenes of still greater horror took place in those mmense log-houses, or sheds, which were found at certain ntervals along the road. Into these, soldiers and officers ushed precipitately, and huddled together like so many cattle. The living not having strength enough to move those who had died close to the fire, sat down upon their bodies, until their own turn came to expire, when they also served as death beds to other victims.

15. "Sometimes the fire communicated itself to the wood, of which these sheds were composed, and then all those within the walls, already half dead with cold, expired in the flames. At one village, the soldiers set fire to whole houses, in order to warm themselves a few moments.

16. "The glare of those conflagrations attracted crowds of wretches whom the intensity of the cold and suffering had rendered delirious: These rushing forward like madmen, gnashing their teeth, and with demoniac laughter, precipitated themselves into the midst of the flames, where they perished in horrible convulsions. Their famished companions looked on without affright, and it is but too true that some of them drew the half roasted bodies from the flames, and ventured to carry to their lips the revolting food!"

Note. Russia, a large empire, partly in Europe, and partly in Asia, is bounded on the north by the Frozen Ocean; on the south by Great Tartary and the Caspian Sea; on the west by Sweden and Poland, and on the east by the Sea of Japan; extending from 500 to 780 north latitude.

CAPTAIN HORNBY.

1. MR. Richard Hornby, of Stockesly, was master of a merchant ship, the Isabella of Sunderland, in which he sailed from the coast of Norfolk for the Hague, June 1,

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