signs, and the purity of his intentions. He attained his point after many difficulties; and, with a small equip. ment, landed on that continent, which confirmed the truth of those conjectures he had conceived from his knowledge of the form of the globe. Posterity can never forget the obligation to which his memory has a claim; though he was deprived of the honour of giving his name to the new world, by a Florentine, Vesputius Americus, who only followed the path he had traced out.

Towards the close of the eleventh century, all Europe was put into a ferment by the fanatical zeal of a monk, generally known by the appellation of Peter the Hermit; who, having made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, formed the wild, improbable design, of uniting the kingdoms of the Christian world in a league, to rescue the Holy Land from the possession of the Infidels.

Such were the powers of this man's eloquence, or rather the influence of superstition, that he assembled, under the auspices of Pope Martin the Second, a council at Placentia, consisting of four thousand ecclesiastics, and thirty thousand laymen. No building could contain so vast a multitude: they assembled on a plain, where the persuasions of the monk were so effectual, and his zeal so contagious, that he was honoured by repeated plaudits, and a resolution of his audience to embrace his proposal.

Peter, flushed with this success, ran from province to province, with a crucifix in his hand, exciting persons of all ranks and conditions to follow his standard. It is said that six millions of people assumed the badge of the cross. Peter led the way, at the head of an advanced body of three hundred thousand men. This wild en- terprise had very durable effects on Europe. It was a present evil to nations, as well as individuals: thousands of the latter perished from want of subsistence and the dangers of the way; whilst the former exhausted their treasures of men and money, in a project from which nothing could be expected but disappointment. Many unexpected advantages, however, arose from it: the East, at that time, was the chief seat of arts and commerce; and the crusaders who escaped from the disasters of the expedition, made some amends to their desolated countries, by the improvements in science and manners that they brought home with them. A general change in society gradually took place; and the present flourishing state of European civilisation is much indebted to the crusades, and the frenzied reveries of Peter the Hermit.

A surprising alteration in the manners of the Russians happened during the reign of the czar Peter the First. Before he ascended the throne, the inhabitants of this extensive empire might justly be termed a vast horde of barbarians; but, within the period of a few years, the

genius of this wise sovereign enacted laws, raised disciplined armies, formed a navy, founded schools, opened an intercourse with foreign nations, and added a noble capital to his dominions.

The mitigations of slavery, and finally, the abolition of that inhuman traffic, owes its completion to the virtuous exertions of a series of individuals; who, with unwearied firmness, have defended the cause of their oppressed brethren, the negroes, till they attained the happiness of effecting their deliverance, and breaking the fetters with which, to the disgrace of humanity, they have been so long and cruelly bound.

The names of Granville Sharp, Anthony Benezet, Clarkson, and Wilberforce, will ever stand high on this record, amongst the most laudable of those, who, with an enlightened policy, have promoted a practical benevolence towards the most oppressed and despised of the human race, which accords with that universal precept of our Divine Master, Do unto others, as thou wouldst have others do to thee.

Enter the prisons in most parts of these kingdoms, and ask the forlorn inhabitants, to whose humane and laborious endeavours they owe many unspeakable comforts and improvements in their condition, and they

will not hesitate to reply, that it is to the great and good John Howard; who, with unexampled ardour, abandoned the enjoyments of an affluent fortune, to seek out the miseries concealed within the prison grates, throughout Europe. No danger appalled, no fatigue, deterred him from his purpose; which was, to investi. gate the abuses of these abodes of human wretchedness, and find the means of at least mitigating their severity.

The wisdom of his suggestions was too forcible to be heard with indifference. In many places he succeeded in arranging the system of prison management, on the most rational and humane principles; in most, he was the means of improving the condition of those unhappy persons, who, by the laws of their country, have forfeited their liberty. A general spirit of improvement, in this respect, is the visible fruit of his labours; his reward is on high; and his memory is consecrated in the breasts of the humane to the most distant ages.

The attention of the public, of late years, has been drawn to the importance of a rational education to the lower classes, by the general adoption of Sunday schools; which owe their rise, principally, to Mr. Robert Raikes, of Gloucester, a private gentleman of a benevolent character, who zealously promoted their establishment. Experience has shown the benefits of this system; which is likely to receive the greatest improvement from the introduction of a new mode of in

struction, first adopted in this country by Mr. Joseph Lancaster; and now diffused, by his means, to the remote parts of the empire.

The attempt has succeeded, by its own merit, and the ardent efforts of its first patron; who, though unsupported by wealth, rank, or connexion, enjoys the solacing reward, that he will be an instrument, in the hands of Providence, of conveying useful instruction to thousands and tens of thousands, who might otherwise have remained in the grossest ignorance.

Such are the deeds that claim the gratitude of posterity, and the esteem of the wise and virtuous of all sects and professions.

MARIA ANTOINETTA.

It is a more pleasing task, as well as a more amiable one, to display the bright traits of a character, than to expose the depraved inclinations of those who have made a distinguished figure on the great theatre of the world.

The late revolution in France has not only overturned the the political system of government, but has brought forth to view latent qualities, both good and bad, that would otherwise have been for ever concealed from observation. Nay, in many instances, the circumstances in which it has placed individuals, may have