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to Africa, but to Asia. But as soon as they passed the western gate of Alexandria, they considered themselves to be in Africa. Here the great Libyan desert begins, which joins the Sahara, the largest desert on the face of the globe. These deserts stretch from the shores of the Nile to the coast of the Atlantic ocean, a length of one thousand one hundred leagues; the greatest breadth towards the south is one hundred and eighty leagues. The space they occupy is almost three times as large as that of the Mediterranean Sea. The parts bordering on Egypt and the Mediterranean are called the Libyan desert. In these, several verdant spots are found, which are termed oases. Hence, the ancients compared this desert to the skin of a leopard, of which the spots were thought to resemble the oases.

The finest parts of the African coast are the high shores of Carthage, (Tunis,) and the plains of Cyrene. The latter district is called, at the present time, Barca. On the ruins of Cyrene, stands a village called Krenne. Here, also, many Jews dwelt, who, like those of Alexandria, were devoted to literary pursuits. One of this school was the person who was forced to assist Jesus in bearing his cross, Acts ii. 10, vi. 9, xi. 20; Mark XV. 21.

With the exception of a narrow strip of land near the coast, North Africa is parched and barren. But in the midst of the immeasurable sands, groups, here and there, are to be found, of oases, abounding with fountains, in which the nomadic natives pitch their tents. Whether these are the direct descendants of the ancient Ludim, or Lehabim, Anamim, or Naphthuchim, it is not easy to determine. Unquestionably, they are very different from the negroes; their colour is a yellow

M

ish brown, their hair not woolly, nor are their features those of the negro race.

The oases of the Libyan desert are plots of ground which often have the appearance of an inland sea or lake. Travellers describe, with rapture, the incomparably luxuriant growth of the plants; the verdure of their meadows and trees; the reviving serene atmosphere, always dry, but not unfrequently cooled by rain, and every night by copious dews; the noble date palms, and other valuable fruits of various kinds. Indeed, nothing more is wanted, than to travel a hundred miles through the desert, and for some weeks to have seen nothing but the cloudless sky and scorching sand, to make the sight of such green meadows reviving and transporting. When, for a thousand years, not a drop of rain or dew falls on the wide sand; when every heavy cloud which the wind drives over the desert, is consumed in an instant by the hot rising vapour, or is driven on high; on the contrary, the cool breezes, rising from the oases, bring down continually dew and rain. Wherever such hollows are found in the wide sands, which are surrounded by rugged hills and rocks, and thus protected against the sultry winds, and in which lakes, or, at least, fresh fountains, are found, and not seldom, hot springs bubble forth; there rain and dew are never wanting. Eternal summer, with all the charms of a warm climate, make these islands of the desert a refreshing resting-place for the caravans, which, for the purpose of fetching gold and slaves from the interior, urge on their course from one oases to another, steering "the ships of the desert" (camels) through ninety miles of parched sands.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TESTIMONIAL. A HIGHLY interesting meeting of Sunday-school teachers was held on Wednesday evening, the 1st of March, in the spacious school-rooms adjoining Dr. Fletcher's meeting-house, Stepney. About one thousand teachers and friends of Sundayschools sat down to tea, but the school-rooms (although the largest in the metropolis) were found too contracted to accommodate all the guests, and tables were obliged to be spread in the two chapel vestries, and in the dwelling-house over the chapel. After tea the tables were removed, and the two spacious school-rooms were filled to overflowing with a highly respectable and attentive auditory, which was now swelled to 1,200 persons. The Right Hon. Dr. LUSHINGTON, late M.P. for the Tower Hamlets, occupied the chair.

The occasion which drew together this large assembly was, to present a PORTRAIT of Mr. HENRY ALTHANS (painted by Morris) to that gentleman, as a token of esteem for his gratuitous services as secretary of the East London Sundayschool Union, during a period extending to thirty years.

The Right Hon. CHAIRMAN opened the business of the evening in an impressive address; after which, the Rev. Dr. Cox, of Hackney, stood forward to perform the pleasing duty of presenting the portrait in the name of the subscribers, and pronounced the picture to be a capital likeness. [The picture was suspended in a splendid frame in a conspicuous place, so that all eyes could see it.]

Mr. ALTHANS, in a very feeling manner, accepted the gift, acknowledging the compliment

intended for him by his zealous coadjutors in Sunday-school teaching, and gave a short account of his early life and labours in the cause of religious education.

The Rev. Dr. CAMPBELL, of the Tabernacle, then addressed the assembled teachers on the vast importance of the work to which they were devoted, with all its duties and responsibilities; after which, the Rev. J. CARLILE, of Hackney, spoke of the connexion which ought always to subsist between the Christian church and the Sundayschool.

G. OFFOR, Esq., related some interesting particulars of the formation of the East London Sunday-school Union, in which he had assisted some thirty years ago.

It appears that this valuable institution arose out of a public meeting held in the Rev. (now Dr.) Andrew Reed's chapel, in the New Road, in the year 1814, in which the lamented Dr. M‘All, of Manchester, took a prominent part, together with the Rev. Dr. Burder, the Rev. J. Blackburn, of Pentonville, and Mr. Henry Althans, the lastnamed gentleman having officiated as gratuitous secretary from the date of its formation. At that period there were only 45 schools, containing 7,000 children; but now, in 1843, there are 126 schools, comprising upwards of 26,000 Sunday scholars.

JOSEPH MAITLAND, Esq., of the East India House, W. H. WATSON, Esq., of the Parent Society, and Mr. T. BROWN, also addressed the assembly, which did not break up until 10 o'clock.

A letter was read from Dr. Fletcher, who, we regret to hear, was confined in the country by evere indisposition.

Two appropriate hymns, composed expressly

for the occasion, by James Montgomery, Esq., of Sheffield, were sung during the evening. It was the largest Sunday-school meeting that has been held for many years in the Tower Hamlets, and most of the ministers of that district sanctioned the proceedings by their presence.

In compliance with a very general request, it has been determined to have an engraving of the portrait executed, which has been placed in the hands of Mr. FINDEN for that purpose. A committee is formed to receive the names of subscribers, Proofs 5s., Prints 2s. 6d.

LETTERS ON SABBATH SCHOOLS.

LETTER III.-ADVANTAGES TO TEACHERS.

By closing my remarks upon the advantages of Sabbath schools to the pupils, with my second number, it will not be inferred, I trust, that I had exhausted my stock of information on that point. I might have mentioned the abstraction of the children from places of idleness, temptation and sin, during the holy hours of the Sabbath. I might have dwelt upon the culture of the social principle, which is so extensively promoted in the Sabbath school, and which forms so important a feature in the proper education of children. I might have enlarged upon the republican sentiment which is generated in the bosoms of the children of the rich and the poor, mutually assembled to get and give instruction. And I might have pointed tothough I could not have portrayed the richness of benevolence which is engendered in the soul,

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