Having given these as preliminary explications, I proceed to the citation from "Remarks on the Real Occurrence of Fossil Infusoria, and their Extensive Diffusion; by Prof. Ehrenberg: read in the Royal Academy of Sciences, Berlin, July 7, 1836." Translated by Mr. W. Francis, and published in Mr. Richard Taylor's Scientific Memoirs, vol. I. p. 400—413. 1 289 48 1 300 "The size of a single one of these Infusoria, which form the Polirschiefer, amounts, upon an average and in the greater part, to of a line, which equals of the thickness of a human hair, reckoning its average size at of a line. The globule of the human blood, considered at is not much smaller. The blood globules of a frog are twice as large as one of these animalcules. As the Polirschiefer of Bilin is slaty, but without cavities, these animalcules lie closely compressed. In round numbers, about 23 millions of animals would make up a cubic line, and would in fact be contained in it. There are 1728 cubic lines in a cubic inch; and therefore a cubic inch would contain, on an average, about 41,000 millions of these animals. On weighing a cubic inch of this mass, I found it to be about 220 grains. Of the 41,000 millions of animals, 187 millions go to a grain; or, the siliceous shield of each animalcule weighs about millionth part of a grain. 1 187 1 1000 "The animalcules of the Raseneisen are only of a line in diameter; or, the part of the thickness of a human hair, of the diameter of a globule of the human blood, of the blood globule of a frog. A cubic line of such animal Iron-ochre would thus, in the same relation, contain one thousand millions; one cubic inch, one billion; and one cube of nine feet diameter, one trillion, of living beings." But I cannot so forget the obligations of reason and truth as to end this Note without requesting my reader to do this subject the justice of reading the impressive passage, which cannot be too well known, the comparison of the moral argument from the telescope and that from the microscope, in Dr. Chalmers's "Discourses on the Christian Revelation, viewed in Connexion with the Modern Astronomy;" p. 112-116. Yet, lest the book should not be at hand, I will quote a few lines. 66 The one led me to see a system in every star : The one the other leads me to see a world in every atom. taught me, that this mighty globe, with the whole burden of its people and of its countries, is but a grain of sand on the high field of immensity. The other teaches me, that every grain of sand may harbour within it the tribes and the families of a busy population. The one told me of the insignificance of the world I tread upon. The other redeems it from all its insignificance; for it tells me that, in the leaves of every forest, and in the flowers of every garden, and in the waters of every rivulet, there are worlds teeming with life, and numberless as are the glories of the firmament. The one has suggested to me that, beyond and above all that is visible to man, there may lie fields of creation which sweep immeasurably along, and carry the impress of the Almighty's hand to the remotest scenes of the universe. The other suggests to me that, within and beyond all that minuteness which the aided eye of man has been able to explore, there may be a region of invisibles; and that, could we draw aside the mysterious curtain which shrouds it from our senses, we might there see a theatre of as many wonders as Astronomy has unfolded, a universe within the compass of a point so small as to elude all the powers of the microscope, but where the wonder-working God finds room for the exercise of all his attributes, where he can raise another mechanism of worlds, and fill and animate them all with the evidences of his glory." [H.] Referred to at page 144. PROGRESS OF CHRISTIAN PIETY IN THE VOLCANIC As the design of these lectures is to serve the highest interests of mankind, I need no apology for introducing some parts of a letter, which has appeared in some of the public papers of London and Paris. The writer is a clergyman of the English Church, well known and highly respected. His veracity is unquestionable, and his narrative cannot fail to give pleasure to those who are the best friends of mankind and sincere disciples of Christ. Amongst the hills of Auvergne and in the Department of the Puy de Dome, is situated the town of Thiers. It is celebrated for its picturesque position, being planted on the steep declivities of rocks and mountains, which are adorned with chestnut-trees, walnuts, oaks, and other striking ornaments of the forest. In front, and at no great distance, is the pyramidal Puy de Dome, with the whole chain of mountains of Mont d'Or and the Cantal; beneath them is the beautiful plain of Clermont, with the silver stream of the Dore winding its way through the midst, and all around the rugged peaks and deep dark mountain ravines stand in striking contrast with sloping hills clothed with vines and corn-fields. The population of this town, computed at 15,000, is almost entirely employed in the manufacture of cutlery. One universal sound, the hammer clinking on the anvil, and the file rasping on the vice, continually strikes the ear in every street, and no other noise has disturbed, from time immemorial, the dull uniformity of Thiers. During the terrible convulsions of the Revolution and the Empire, this place, indeed, as all others in France, had to deplore its youth sacrificed in foreign fields; and the monotony of human life was then arrested by the news of some falling by the lake of Mantua, others at the walls of Saragossa, and others on the plains of Germany. But the regrets of such calamities have long since ceased to agitate the hearts of survivors, and nothing seems to occupy attention but to partake of food, to labour for its acquisition, and to die. About two years ago, however, the quiet of the scene was disturbed by a most novel occurrence. The report was circulated, ‘There are Protestants arrived at Thiers; they are selling Bibles; they are praying, reading, conversing at the Boullet.' This intelligence acted like an electric shock on the somnolent population. Out rushed no less, it is asserted, than 2,000 persons towards the place, where one of the colporteurs of the Geneva Society was explaining in his simple manner the great truths of the Gospel. So furious was the mob, such their threats, their gesticulations, and their spirit. that the most serious consequences were apprehended. Not only had the colporteur to escape with the utmost haste by a way removed from the tumult, but even the commissaire de police and the gens d'armes had to interfere most promptly to prevent evil. The riot of this day will ever be a memorable fact in the history of Thiers! "It might have been supposed that truth, meeting with such opposition on its first arrival, would have retired in dismay from the whole region; but such an opinion would have been most erroneous. It has pleased the God of mercy to pour out his Holy Spirit so remarkably on this place, that a considerable number of persons are not only reading with attention the Holy Scriptures, and affording good hopes of eventual conversion, but an infant church of Protestant * "It is positively asserted, that no less than 150 young men, belonging to a single and small quarter of the town, perished in ten or fifteen years." Christians has been already formed; and at the first sacrament, no less than twenty-seven persons, all of them, in the judgment of charity, sincerely seeking eternal salvation, were partakers. "I have been residing in the midst of this little flock about a fortnight, and I am deeply affected with admiration at the work of divine grace which is here exhibited. Eighteen months ago the very name of Protestant was scarcely known in the neighbourhood, no right views of Christ and his salvation were in existence, the grossest superstitions of popery, and the most reckless infidelity divided the territory between them; in short, a moral midnight brooded over the whole population: now a religious impression has been produced of the most extensive character; not a family, perhaps, can be found, which has not conversed, and thought, and felt, either favourably or unfavourably, on this great subject. Up to this hour the Protestant labours are the theme of universal and perpetual conversation. To my own observation, the twentyseven communicants above-mentioned, and several others, have been brought from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God;' and it is known to God alone how far eventually the blessings of the gospel will be diffused in this region. "It is most interesting to mark the new converts, to observe their diligent study of the Bible, some of them even in old age beginning to read, that they may peruse the sacred pages; to listen to them singing delightfully the praises of God, in the beautiful hymns and tunes of our Geneva brethren; to hear with what simplicity and unction they lead the prayers of the congregation when invited to do so; and, above all, to notice that 'where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound.' The habitual deportment of the converts is highly consistent; the world cannot reproach them with ill-conduct; some of their number, |