surface. The mountainous district comprehends more than one-third of the whole county; the old inclosures about one half, and the lakes and waters 8000 acres; the remainder consists either of commons capable of improvement, or lands recently enclosed. The mountainous district is divided into two parts, the one on the borders of Northumberland, the other on the south east part of the county. The former abounds in limestone, slate coal, and lead ore; but is not remarkable for picturesque beauty; the latter is generally sterile*, but contains several rich, though narrow, valleys, wih many fine lakes, (among which Ullswater and Derwentwater, or Keswick Lake, are the most celebrated,) rivers, cascades, and woodlands, which combined, or contrasted in the view, with the gigantic rocky masses around them, exhibit many remarkable scenes of grandeur, desolation and beauty. Black peat earth is the most prevalent soil of the mountainous districts. The celebrated mine of black lead of which pencils are made is situated on the side of a steep mountain in the south eastern district. This mine is the only one of the kind in England. It is only opened occasionally, as the demand may require, and then carefully closed. The northern part of the county is in general flat, and a tract of low land, from 2 to 4 or 5 miles in breadth, winds along the western shore.About half the cultivated land consists of dry loams; the fertile clays occupy but a small portion, but clay, wet and sterile, forms the sub-soil + in many parts. Landed property is much divided in this county, and the farms are in general small. Agriculture is, in most instances, conducted with but little attention to system. Considerable quantities of coal are raised near Workington and Martha and Mary. 121 Whitehaven, which are exported to Ireland and the western coast of Scotland. There are very productive lead mines in the neighbourhood of Ulstone, in the eastern border of the county. The principal rivers are the Eden, the Derwent, the Calder, and the Esk. The Eden rises in Westmoreland, and passes by Carlisle into the Solway Firth; the Derwent and the Calder both rise in the southeastern district of mountains; the vales through which they flow are very beautiful; the former falls into the sea near Workington, and the latter joins the Eden near Carlisle. The Esk rises in Scotland and falls into the Solway Firth. The principal towns are Carlisle, the capital of the county, and the seat of a Bishop; Penrith, a considerable market town, on the borders of Westmoreland; and Whitehaven, Workington, and Maryport on the sea-coast. This county from its great extent of coast and numerous mountains is much exposed to rains; which prevailing, especially in autumn, render the crops very precarious. January 8th. N. C. T. MARTHA AND MARY. Martha her love and joy express'd, The principle in both the same, But Mary chose the better part, Her Saviour's words refresh'd her heart; stantly lecturing her family on the first, that they had no time nor inclination to think of the last. Her husband spoke wisely when he said to her" Ye tell the bairns, Jenny, that cleanliness is next to godliness-tak care that ye dinna teach them that godliness is next to cleanliness *.” As to some of the ways of children, they are what belong to them merely as children, and will leave them, of themselves, as they grow older; and to give an over importance to them is wasting time, and labour, and temper, to little or no purpose. I knew a mother who was always complaining of the faults of her children. "They are constantly in mischief; always doing something that they should not. It is not for want of talking to, for I am perpetually speaking to them, or checking them, or punishing them,--and it is of no manner of use. I think they are all the worse for it."-I should think so too. My readers must not however suppose, that I wish parents to be negligent, or to overlook the little awkward ways that their children get into. Quite the contrary. But there is a difference between these, and crimes, and therefore they should be spoken of in a different manner; and this is the most likely way, moreover, of succeeding in our attempts. V. ON FAMILY PRAYER. 'MR. EDITOR, A LITTLE girl was reading to me some days since, a little book, called "Village Conversations on the Liturgy +," and she seemed so well pleased with, * History of a Servant Maid. + A little work not long since added to the list of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. and so well to understand, what is there said between two poor men of the comforts of family prayer, that I thought it might be useful to write a short form of family prayer; and, if you approve of it, you will perhaps put it into your Visitor, that such Cottagers as wish to live like Christians, may use it with their families. If unhappily neither the father nor mother of the family can read, one of the children may do it; for, in these times, there are very few who have not been taught to read. And how can they so well employ their learning as in praying to, and praising, that God, "from whom cometh every good and perfect gift," and who by his grace put it into the hearts of the rich to have poor children taught to read their Bibles, and to offer up their prayers. Most earnestly do I recommend it to my Cottage friends to join in prayer with their families, night and morning; and I advise this not as a duty, (though a bounden duty it is) but as a great and certain happiness, as that which, if rightly used and felt, will sweeten their daily labour, be the means of improving their children, and of bringing to their hearts that peace which the world can neither give nor take away. Putney Heath. E. M. Sunday Morning. All devoutly kneeling, let the person who reads, say, "Let us pray." ALMIGHTY GOD, the maker of heaven and earth, who, in Thy great mercy, didst command the sabbath to be kept as a day of holy rest, grant that it may be truly such to us, and while in obedience to thy law, we rest from those labours, which, if always continued, would destroy the body; may we this day, and for ever, rest from those sins, which, if we turn not from them, must destroy the soul.-Grant that by Thy grace, we may be enabled to this life, which will soon be ended, to the concerns of that better life which will last for ever. Make us regular and devout in our attendance on public worship. May we receive, as our best treasure and greatest blessing, the promises of Thy mercy cone tained in Thy holy word, and thankfully attend to all the good instructions which may this day be given to us. Grant that while our lips utter Thy praises, our hearts also may rise to Thee in earnest prayer for the pardon of all our past sins for Jesus Christ's sake, and for the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to obey Thy commandments in all things, and may live humbly and righteously in this life, that in the life to come, we may joyfully rise to live with Thee. O blessed Lord, our Saviour and Redeemer! who didst, as on this day, rise from the grave, raise we beseech Thee our souls unto a life of righteousness, that we, by Thy grace, may heartily repent of, and forsake our sins, may feel our great unworthiness, and, in humble faith, may trust alone in Thee. And do Thou, O Holy Ghost, purify our hearts, and put into them good desires, and enable us, to bring the same to good effect.-Guide and strengthen us by Thy power, and save us from every evil thought, and every sinful word and action. All these petitions we humbly offer up, in the name and through the mediation of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father! which art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day qur daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen, |