Those who were formerly in the receipt of parish pay were now earning their own maintenance, and eating their own bread. The mischief-makers, idling their time in the streets, were no more to be seen those that were able, were at work; and such as were not able were in their comfortable home, the workhouse. : ROYAL BERKSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.-His Majesty has contributed the sum of 50%. to the funds of the excellent and flourishing society of Wallingford, which will enable the Managing Committee to extend their efforts in promoting the science of gardening, and encouraging, by more liberally rewarding, the industrious labourers within their district. The members of the Weyhill Agricultural Society held their annual meeting, for the distribution of prizes, at the White Hart Inn, Andover, at which Sir John W. Pollen, Bart. M.P. presided. The prizes were awarded as under : : To the shepherd who had the greatest number of lambs in proportion to the number bred during the year, with the fewest losses of ewes and lambs; the flock to consist of not less than 200 ewes : 1st prize, 31. to David Swather, shepherd to Mr. G. R. Gale, of Littleton. 2nd prize, 21. to John Lay, shepherd to Sir John Walter Pollen, Bart. To the man (without reference to age) who had lived longest on the same farm and produced the best testimonials for honesty, sobriety, and general good character: 1st prize, 31. to Wm. Sibley, servant to W. H. Gale, Esq. of Grately. 2nd ditto, 21. to John Sibley, servant to ditto. To four married labourers, who had within the last 25 years, brought up and supported the largest families with the least assistance from the parish: 1st prize, 107. to Timothy Turner, of Tidworth. 2d ditto. 51. to Robert Barber, of Andover. 3d ditto, 3. to John Ponting, of Andover. 4th ditto, 21. to Wm. Bulpit, of Andover.-Salisbury Herald POPULATION OF PARIS.-Various estimates of the population of Paris have been made at different periods, but the following calculation is, it is believed, from accurate data. In 1590, although the population had been reduced by religious wars, it was about 200,000. It increased much under Henry IV. and Louis XIII. In the latter part of the reign of Louis XIV. it was about 510,000; in 1762 it was 576,000; in the reign of Louis XVI. the number of inhabitants was 600,000; in 1805 it was 547,750; in 1817, 713,966; in 1827, 890,431; in 1831, 774,338; in 1832, it was calculated at 770,280; and, according to the last census, the population was nearly one million; so that it has been almost doubled in the course of 31 years.-Athenæum. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have received the coinmunications of N. B.; S. C. T.; S.; F.; Y.; A Layman; Juvenis; M. A. B.; D. I. E.; and F. M. K.; also The Lives of the Saints. The original letters sent by S. C. T. are left at our Publishers in Waterloo Place, till called for. Several of our Correspondents ask for private communications as to whether we mean to publish their articles? or why we do not?-and whether we are in want of help? We must excuse ourselves from this embarrassment. If the articles do not appear, it will be either for want of room, or that we have enough of the kind, or that they do not particularly suit our purpose. TRINITY.-2 Cor. iii. 4. WHEN the law was given to the people in the wilderness, "there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the Mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; and Mount Sinai was altogether in a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the whole mount quaked greatly." It cannot then be thought strange that, on descending from a scene so awful and so glorious, the countenance of Moses should retain so much of the fearful splendour he had beheld, that the people could not stedfastly look upon him, till he had put a veil upon his face. Far different, but yet more glorious, was the scene which took place on the Mount of Transfiguration, when the voice from Heaven commanded that henceforth obc dience was to be paid to the Son of God who came to fulfil the law in His own person. Jesus appeared in glory. His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. But when the voice proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased-hear Him," Moses and Elias, the chief lawgiver and the chief of the prophets, vanished away, and Jesus was left alone; their disappearance signifying that their office was at an end, by the coming of Him of whom Moses, in the law, and the prophets, did write. The difference too in the nature of the command was very striking: the one severely pronounced death to every one that should not observe all the words of the law to keep them; the other was a message of mercy and love, through the beloved Son of God, telling a sinful race, that, "if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and that He is the propitiation for our sins." The one is justly called by St. Paul the "ministration of condemnation"-the other "the ministration of righteousness." No man hath ever yet kept the holy law of God perfectly; for such is the weakness of our nature, that we "are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves"-but in Christ we are accounted righteous, and, for the sake of His meritorious sacrifice, the believer is accepted. "The letter" of the law indeed "killeth;" for, as St. James teaches, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all, and, consequently, incurs the penalty of death as the punishment of his disobedience. "But the Spirit giveth life;" for, as St. Paul elsewhere declares, "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," and that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death." This life is a new life unto righteousness. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." None who continue in sin have any portion in Him. Let us labour earnestly to attain unto this life. Let us pray without ceasing for this life-giving Spirit, by whose help we shall be enabled to walk so as to please God, gradually to subdue our carnal mind, to maintain a constant warfare against the sinful lusts of the flesh, and 1837.] THE DYING YOUTH. 147 to hold fast our faith and assured confidence in Him who hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. Thus, daily increasing in his holy Spirit more and more, we may at length, when our earthly course is ended, be admitted to a share in that exceeding glory wherein He dwelleth, who hath swallowed up death in victory; who hath taken away the sting of death, and abolished "the strength of sin" which is "the law," even "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." O God! the strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers, and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping of Thy commandments, we may please Thee both in will and deed, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. L. S. R. THE DYING YOUTH. Boy.-Dear Mother! talk to me of God! Mother. I scarce need tell, my gentle boy, For guilty knowledge—death and hell; The heirs of sin, and death, and shame. In every action, word, and thought. Mother. Such tears, my sweet one, God approves : The tear of penitence He loves; Boy. But, Mother, though full oft I've read Mother.-Dear boy, whilst wandering here below, Begirt with many a hidden snare. Boy.-I hear my brother's mirthful laugh; The mountain breezes wild and free. Mother.-Dry, dry those tears, my darling child, And check those thoughts that war within. A Wand'rer in this world of sin : Boy. But, Mother, 'tis a weary thing To press the couch from day to day;- Mother. The last on earth, my darling boy; But raise thy drooping soul above, Boy. Thanks, Mother, thanks!-'Tis pass'd away, New hopes around my bosom play, I see it now!-Had health been mine, The pardon by my Saviour brought. Kiss, kiss my brow, my Mother dear, But say with me," Thy will be done." |