wooden partition in the middle, reaching to the bottom. On one side of this partition are placed short wooden ladders, in a zig-zag direction, from top to bottom of the pit. Having each lighted his candle, we addressed ourselves to the work of descending, and were right glad, after some fatigue, and no little weariness, to find that we had reached the bottom. At this spot, we were about half a mile from the shaft where the coals are taken up. Mr. Barclay led the way, with a lanthorn, and after we had followed for some time, we began to perceive that we had entered a spacious gallery, the roof about twelve feet high. By the glimmer of our candles on the right hand, the wall seemed to be solid, but on the left, now and then appeared a spacious gloomy cavern, which seemed to turn at right angles to the rout we were pursuing, but how far we could not tell; all beyond a few yards, was covered with an impenetrable darkness. To let you know more than I did, when surveying these gloomy regions, we were walking in what miners call, the level, which is excavated in a horizontal direction, (as its name imports,) in a line at right angles to the direction which the stratum dips. In this way, a level channel is obtained for the water that accumulates, without passing from the vein of coal, which you will easily perceive, could not be accomplished by running a mine in any other direction. In that case, if you follow the coal, you must descend with the stratum; if you keep a level, you leave the coal. The caverns on our left hand, were the workings which are always wrought upwards; hence we had none on our right hand. On this side a river flowed, which was supplied by tributary streams, that issued from

times by a water-fall, where the roof had given way. Hitherto, the murmur of the stream had alone broke the dreary stillness of these caverns, and the feeble rays of our candles had only made visible the darkness they could not dissipate; but now other sounds and sights began to burst upon us; a fire was seen blazing in the distance, and a number of motley faces, which still preserved some colors that could reflect the light, (reflected by nothing else,) danced and gleamed before us like the figures in a magic lanthorn. The clanking of chains, and the trampling of horses, were now distinctly heard; and a hollow sound, as of distant thunder, grumbled through the subterranean vaults, as the loaded baskets (I might almost call them waggons) were dragged along. We had now, in fact, arrived at the pit, where the coals are raised by a steam engine; and by that time, I was as much tired with my walk, as I now am in describing it. We had not yet travelled over half the ground; But as the rest of our journey was more expeditious, I hope to make the description more brief. A train of empty baskets were ready to move, in which we made very comfortable seats of straw. Our horse was harnessed, our lights adjusted, and in a few minutes, we started at full trot to explore the yet unseen recesses of this endless labyrinth. What we saw here, was just what we had seen before, till we arrived, after travelling another mile, at the place where the men were at work. Here the air was very close from the smoke of their lamps, and we were glad to make our way back on loaded baskets, though contrary to the laws of those realms. We took no candles in returning, as a lamp is attached to each train of baskets. By accident, this only remaining

light went out about the middle of our journey, and we were left in darkness, of which those above ground can form no conception. Our horse continued to canter along, as if nothing had happened, at a rate that made it a little difficult for me to keep my seat. In some time, a twinkling lamp again appearing in the distance, on passing which, things went on as before. The baskets we travelled in, are set on wheels which move on a rail way. The horses are in excellent condition, and have very good stables in the mine. They never see the light of day, from the time they are first lowered down. In our return, I need not describe farther.

When you have read the above confused description read the twenty-eighth chapter of Job, and tell me if it does not throw some light on the sublime description there. If not I have failed to represent to you what I have seen. Man can,

indeed, do much; but, after all, his power is limited. He can put forth his hand upon the rocks, and overturn the mountains by the roots. He can cut out rivers among the rocks; he can bind the flood from overflowing. His eye seeth every precious thing, and the thing that is hid, he bringeth forth to light. But where shall wisdom be found?-God alone knoweth the way thereof; and oh, let us thank him with our whole hearts, that what human skill could never have discovered, he has freely made known to us by the gospel. Man can "bore the solid earth;" but the depth saith of this wisdom, it is not in me. Man can fathom the ocean and explore its hidden caverns; but the sea saith, it is not with me. In what a pitiable condition is man, with all his boasted wisdom, without divine revelation. O how thankful then

should we be, that this precious gift, the gift of heavenly wisdom, is freely offered to all! It is easily accessible, to every individual. No careful and laborious search is to be made, ere we can discover it; no difficult task to be performed, ere we can deserve it. "Say not then in thine heart,' &c. (Read the passage, Rom. x, 8; and the parallel verses, Deut. xxx, 11-15.)

Let us embrace with eagerness and joy, the precious truths that God has revealed to us. Pardon and reconciliation, and spiritual renovation, are the gifts that are offered. They are not to be compared in value to any earthly thing. They have been purchased by the blood of Christ, and are offered to us for nothing. O let us not then despise or neglect these invaluable gifts, which the possession of a thousand worlds could not enable us to purchase!

The following is one of his short addresses to his class of young men, after it was formed:

AN ADDRESS.

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding," &c. Prov. iii, 13-19.

It would be a very reasonable question for any of you to put to me to night, "What has been your object in calling us together?" And I think I should speak the sincere language of my heart, in answering, "My object simply is to try to make you happy.' "" Could I succeed in convincing you, that this is really my design, and that I have rational expectations of accomplishing

it; I know that I should secure the willing attendance, and the earnest attention of all whose circumstances do not absolutely forbid them. Every one wishes to be happy. However different may be the pursuits in which men engage, and however diversified the objects on which they set their affections, this is the great sum of their desires, and this the point to which all their efforts tend. Every one of you feels the truth of this statement. You are all seeking after happiness; and yet, were I to question each one of you on this subject, I dare say I should receive the same answer from all, that this great object of your wishes has not yet been obtained. There is still another point in which I may venture to say, you all agree. this is, "that though you have not yet found this object of your wishes, you have the expectation, that at some future period it will be obtained.". The most miserable has the expectation.—Take it away, and you leave a man in despair.

And

You feel then, that at present, you are not quite happy. Many of you may feel yourselves to be very miserable. You earnestly desire to be happy; and you have some vague hope, that at some time or other, you will be so.

This is a subject then, which is interesting to all of you. It is interesting to those who are most careless and indifferent about every thing else. And yet, though a subject of such universal interest, there is perhaps no subject on which men have differed so widely. Why have we so many different characters in the world? It is just because men have such different notions of what will make them happy.

One man thinks, if he were rich, he would be