to the first; and the fourth is of a dull aspect, at different times inclining to red and orange. The following are their diameters when the planet is at its mean distance.

The first 1".015. The second 0".911. The third 1.488. The fourth 1".273.

The most beautiful arrangement is perceived in the distances, and periods of the satellites; their disappearances only occur under circumstances which prevent the total absence of their light to their primary: the first three can never be eclipsed at the same time, and though when the second and third are simultaneously eclipsed, the first is in conjunction with Jupiter, and consequently invisible, being in a line with the sun and its primary; yet, owing to the swiftness of its motion, (being the Mercury of this beautiful miniature system,) it soon escapes from the sun's beams, and appears with a beautiful crescent, which quickly expands into a full orb, thus supplying the deficiency of light, during the absence of the others.

The variety of combinations under which the satellites of Jupiter appear to a terrestrial spectator is exceedingly interesting, sometimes all on the east, at other seasons, all on the west side of the primary; at other times in conjunction with each other; one or two frequently invisible, being either on the disc, or concealed in the shadow of the primary; occasionally, though very rarely, one satellite eclipsing another. In the year 1681, November the second, at ten at night, there was a total disappearance of all the satellites; the first, third, and fourth, being on the disc, and the second behind the planet: the conjunction of all the satellites must be a very rare occurrence, for in the event of such a phenomenon, it may be proved to require 3.087.043.493.260 years to bring them into a similar position again!

We can scarcely conceive of the splendour and
D d

peculiarity of the starry hemisphere of Jupiter, though the same constellations of Taurus, Orion, and Argo Navis, with their bright associates of both hemispheres ornament their sky; yet it must be very different to ours, their heavens having a different axis of revolution, (the poles of Jupiter being nearly at right angles to the plane of his orbit,) and this revolution performed with an almost whirling rapidity. No planet, it is probable, (unless the powers of vision are superior) can be seen by an inhabitant of Jupiter, but the one above it, Saturn, and probably Mars, when at his greatest elongation, appearing under nearly the same circumstances in which we see Mercury when similarly situated. The inhabitants would have no idea of the existence of the Earth, Venus, or Mercury, unless at the time of inferior conjunction, and then only under peculiar circumstances, when these planets would appear as small black spots transitting the disc of the Sun.

The visible hemisphere of Jupiter, exclusive of the fixed stars, consists of six bodies,-the Sun, appearing under an angle of 6′ and diffusing a light equal to of that the earth receives; the planet Saturn, subtending an angle of 30", and his own four moons; the nearest appearing with a diameter of 60′ 20′′, the second 29′ 42′′, the third 22′ 28′′, and the fourth 9′39′′, from which it appears that the first satellite is seen with twice the diameter of our moon to us, and ten times the diameter of the Sun to Jupiter, the apparent deficiency of planetary bodies being thus amply made up by his own beautiful attendants, while their magnitudes, brilliancy, phases, and swiftness of motion, add inconceivably to the splendour of the heavens during the absence of the Sun.

But though this view of the heavens, as contemplated from the orb of Jupiter, is beautiful and grand, it must be far surpassed in magnificence, as

supposed to be seen from the satellites: an observer on the first, would not only see its own bright companions of the circling way, with all their diversified phases, but great Jupiter, with his orb expanded to stupendous rotundity, filling a large space in the heavens, appearing a thousand times larger than our moon to the terrestrial inhabitants,-swiftly turning on its axis, and waxing and waning through every phase, from a crescent to a broad disc in the short period of forty-two hours and a half.

How interesting are the reflections connected with this vast world, and its tributary globes,—the whole whirling round the resplendent sun in 11 yrs. 315 days, 14h. 27m. 11s., obeying the same laws that bind the whole to the centre, each secondary body exemplifying on a smaller scale, and in lesser portions of time, the same phenomena that require a lapse of ages to develope in the larger bodies of the system, and illustrating in miniature that exquisite arrangement which universally prevails, and is every where evinced for the protection and existence of the whole.

O holy star!

To thee in admiration have I sate,

Dreaming sweet dreams, till earth-born turbulence
Was all forgot; and thinking that in thee

Far from the rudeness of this jarring world,
There might be realms of quiet happiness.

TO THE PLANET JUPITER.

I looked on thee, Jove, 'till my gaze
Sank, smote from the pomp of thy blaze;
For in heaven, from the sun-set's red throne
To the zenith-thy rival was none.

From thy orb rushed a torrent of light
That made the stars dim in thy sight;
And the half-risen moon seemed to die,
And leave thee the realm of the sky.

I looked on the ocean's broad breast-
The purple was pale in the west;
But down shot thy long silver spire,
And the waves were like arrows of fire.

I turned from the infinite main,

And thy light was the light of the plain;
'Twas the beacon that blazed on the hill-
Thou wert proud, pure, magnificent still.

A cloud spread its wing over heaven,
By the shaft of thy splendor 'twas riven,
And I saw thy bright front through it shine,
Like a god from the depth of his shrine.

The Naturalist's Diary,

For July, 1830.

Summer with her smile

Fills the green forest.

MRS. HEMANS.

The face of nature still presents the most lovely appearance. Flora with prodigal hand strews her favors over the earth; and as we gaze abroad, we are led to exclaim with Milton's Adam :

About me round I saw

Hill, dale, and shady wood, and sunny plains,
And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these
Creatures that liv'd, and mov'd, and walk'd or flew ;
Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd
With fragrance; and with joy my heart o'erflow'd.

A garden has ever had the praise and affection of the wise. What is requisite to make a wise and happy man, but reflection and peace; and both are the natural growth of a garden. Nor is a garden only a promoter of a good man's happiness, but a picture of it also; and, in some sort, shows him to himself; its culture, order, fruitfulness, and seclusion from the world, compared to the weeds, wildness and exposure of a common field, is no bad emblem of a good man, compared to the multitude. A garden weeds the mind; it weeds it of worldly thoughts, and sows celestial seeds in their stead. A garden, to the virtuous, is a paradise still extant; here are no objects to inflame the passions; none that are not calculated to instruct the understanding and better the heart, while they delight the sense.-Dr. Young.