remains were placed in a coffin with a glass lid, and laid in his study, where, despite of the inclemency of the weather, the inhabitants of the Ban and of the surrounding districts (of all ages, conditions, and religious denominations) congregated to take a farewell look at his beloved face.

Early in the morning of the day fixed for the interment, the clouds cleared away and the sun shone with its wonted brilliancy. As the procession left the house, the president of the consistory of Barr placed Oberlin's clerical robes upon the coffin, the vice-president of the consistory placed his Bible upon it, and the mayor affixed the decoration of the Legion of Honour to the funeral pall. At the conclusion of this ceremony, ten or twelve young females, who had been standing round the bier, sung a hymn, and at two o'clock the procession began to move, the coffin being borne by the mayors, elders, and official magistrates of the Ban and of the neighbouring

communes.

The region round about seemed to have sent forth all its inhabitants, so great was the concourse which assembled. The interment took place at Foudai, two miles distant from Oberlin's house, but the foremost of the funeral train had reached the churchyard before the last had left the parsonage! The children and youths of the different schools formed part of the melancholy

procession, chanting at intervals sacred hymns, selected and adapted to the occasion. When they approached Foudai, a new bell, which had been presented in commemoration of this day of sorrow, was heard to toll for the first time, and to mingle its melancholy sound with the bells of the valley. The burying-ground was surrounded by Roman Catholic women, all dressed in deep mourning, and kneeling in silent prayer. On arriving at the church, the coffin was placed at the foot of the communion-table, and as many persons entered as the little place would contain, the great multitude having to remain in the churchyard and the adjoining lanes. Notwithstanding the presence of so great a number of persons, the utmost order and solemnity prevailed. Several persons, who could find room nowhere else, sat down on the steps beside the coffin, as if anxious to cling to the ashes of one whom they loved so well. Many distinguished persons were present, and several Roman Catholic priests, dressed in their canonicals, sat among the members of the consistory. At the conclusion of the president's address, a hymn was sung, and the coffin borne to the grave, which is on one side of the little church, beneath a weeping willow that shades the tomb of his son Henry. Here, amidst the tears of the assembled thousands, the earth was heaped upon the house of clay which once contained the spirit of John Frederic Oberlin, the

world's benefactor, while the humble and Christlike pastor of the Ban de la Roche.

Reader, do you wish to die as he died? If so, live as he lived; and your memory, like his, will be green and fragrant throughout all ages.

FRANKLIN THE NAVIGATOR.

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN was born in the year 1786, of a respectable family in Lincolnshire, possessed for several centuries of an estate and position which very probably gave them their name originally. The father of Sir John was compelled to part with the patrimonial estate, and send his children into active life, upon very slender means, and without interest with which to work their way to distinction.

John, the youngest of four sons, was destined by his father for the Church, or for agricultural pursuits; but he showed so strong a predilection for the sea, that he was allowed to have his way, and entered the navy on the 1st of October, 1800, at the age of fourteen, on board the Polyphemus, sixty-four gun-ship. He was present at the action off Copenhagen in 1801. Immediately afterwards, one phase of his career of exploration commenced. He was one of the party in the Investigator under his relative Captain Flinders, and though only a young midshipman, was personally associated with his Commander in all his explorations and survey of the coasts of Australia, and suffered shipwreck with him in Torres Straits, near Cato Bank, in August, 1803. A worthy beginning it was for that adventurous career, selfadopted, and nobly carried out in after days. The

Earl Camden, an East Indiaman, conveyed Franklin home, and he distinguished himself highly even on this incidental passage, aiding in the repulse of the French squadron under Linois. Bonaparte was then contesting the seas with us, most futilely.

As signal-midshipman in the Bellerophon, Franklin was present at Trafalgar, on the 21st of October, 1805; and during the succeeding years, rising to the rank of lieutenant, he served at Flushing, and afterwards at New Orleans (1814). During the engagements at the latter place, of unfortunate memory, he commanded some of the boats of the British squadron which captured the strong gunboats of the Americans, after a hard struggle and severe losses. In short, in the joint capacities of sailor and engineer, he won an enduring share of repute in the service at the affair of Orleans, and particularly by his planning and cutting a canal across the entire broad neck of land betwixt the Bayou Catalan and the Mississippi. The attempted siege ended unhappily for the British. To Franklin, however, the campaign brought a more solid reward, in the shape of a strong recommendation for immediate promotion. He had, indeed, not only proved his merits professionally, but he had shown himself to be a man of ready resources in all departments of action. He had, in short, given an indication of those general and superior abilities which afterwards came more fully to light during his arctic explorations.