while Walpole, by his desire to promote | peace, was highly beneficial, and would have been more so had he possessed the integrity of Chatham. But worldly glory was the great end of all Chatham's measures; for this he sought, and he had his reward; he was eulogised to the utmost, and unduly appreciated, till the lapse of years caused a more sober judgment to be formed. However honoured by the world, the Christian must not forget his painful declaration, that "he loved honourable war;" for surely, even if lawful and necessary in self defence, acts which involve such a fearful train of atrocities should ever be deemed dishonourable.

On June 17, hostilities began by some French ships and the English fleet commanded by Keppel firing upon each other. An action between the two fleets took place in the end of July; the English had the advantage; but the action was indecisive, owing to the British admiral still adhering to the plan of coming to an action in a regular line, then usually adopted, which gave the enemy the opportunity of preventing a close combat.

The events in America call for attention. The year 1778 began with the Congress breaking the convention of Saratoga, and detaining the English_prisoners on very frivolous pretexts. They knew that, although they were engaged not to serve against America, the arrival of these men in England would relieve the like number of their countrymen to proceed to the seat of war. Burgoyne, after an ineffectual attempt, acquiesced, and demanded that he should be allowed to proceed to England on his parole. For this meanness he was properly reproved by the king, who asked him publicly, why he had left his officers and men behind him.

Washington's army was reduced to extremities. The last provisions were issued; he was compelled to seize supplies by force from his countrymen. This was authorized by the Congress, ordering him to pay in certificates, or paper money, both at that time valueless, and future payment being unprovided for by the government. The people, therefore, were the more stimulated to carry their supplies to Philadelphia for payment in coin. Washington remonstrated at being compelled to proceed in such a lawless course. His perseverance, under the difficulties pressing upon him at this time, with the mean attempts employed to

make him give place to Gates, was highly praiseworthy. This self-denial was the preservation of the cause for which he fought, while his vigorous and able efforts were forwarded by the inactivity and inability of his opponent, general Howe. The remedy adopted by Congress, was, ordering all goods required for the army to be seized anywhere they could be found, to be paid for at prices fixed by the Congress. It was necessary even to press men to serve in the American army, many of whom deserted to the side of the English; but notwithstanding all these sufferings, augmented by disease, Howe did not attempt to advance, but allowed his opponent to bring matters into some degree of order, and to discipline his new levies. Philadelphia, meanwhile, presented a scene of continued dissipation, and disgraceful orgies of every sort. The English troops were as much injured by abundance and indolence, as those of Washington by privations and harassing duties.

Complaints were made on both sides, as to the treatment of the prisoners; but the truth must be stated, that the Americans were to blame, both as a government and as individuals; their treatment of the unfortunate men who had fallen into their power was reprehensible, and caused much ill-feeling. In several instances, they refused to release English soldiers in exchange for their own people, liberated by Howe on the assurance of their being exchanged. Washington was much displeased at the disgraceful conduct and chicanery of those in authority, but, firmly bent on the independence of the country, he persevered. In one case, provisions and clothing sent, by his consent, for the British prisoners, were seized and plundered, and it was long before a fair plan of exchange was agreed to by the Americans, and acted upon. In England, on the contrary, a public subscription was made for procuring additional relief to the wants of the Americans then prisoners in England.

In May, Howe left America, having received permission to retire. His officers treated him with a fête at his leavetaking, a sort of medley, as the Italian word "Mischianza" signified, by which it was described. A regatta, a mock tournament, in which a most ridiculous attempt was made to exhibit the absurdities of chivalry; a ball, fireworks, and gambling, constituted the extrava

tions, and discouraged a plan of La Fayette's, for an expedition, on a large scale, from France to the St. Lawrence. Before the end of the year, lord North's commissioners returned, finding all their efforts to treat were refused, but not till they had published some able papers, which tended to keep up a jealousy of the French alliance, and to place the proceedings of Congress in a disadvantageous light, as to the treatment of Burgoyne's army and other matters.

The year 1779 began with a long protracted frost of eighty-four days, during which the Thames was frozen over; when the sports usually exhibited on such occasions took place. The royal speech complained of the conduct of France, and called for increased active exertions. Party discussions prevailed as usual. The late naval action of Keppel was a prominent subject, a dispute having arisen as to whether he had been properly supported by Palliser, the second in command, who was a partisan of the ministry, while Keppel was in the opposition." Court martials followed. The result was that Keppel was acquitted of misconduct or neglect of duty. A demonstration of public rejoicing followed, which ended in riotous proceedings. Palliser in his turn was tried and acquitted, though slightly censured for not acquainting the commander with the disabled state of his ships. The House of Commons then entered upon an inquiry into the proceedings in America, and the conduct of the war. It ended in nothing, except exposing the inefficiency of Howe, and his blundering conduct; while Burgoyne escaped better, it being shown that his force of 3,500 men was surrounded by 19,000 when they surrendered.

For a long series of years, Ireland had been discouraged and depressed as a nation, but the present difficulties of the English government encouraged and enabled some leaders in that country to put forward their claims. They formed armed voluntary associations, raised at first for supplying the place of the regular troops withdrawn to serve in America, but soon assuming a more independent power, and requiring the redress of grievances, especially those by which the trade and commerce of the country were pressed down. The subject being brought forward by the earl of Rockingham and others, a pledge was given by the ministry, that some arrangements should be made against the next session.

This was followed in June by a declaration of war from Spain, soon after which the session closed, some strong measures for carrying on the war having previously been adopted. The Spanish court had been unwilling to enter into warfare, though the hope of repossessing Gibraltar was a strong inducement, preparations for a siege having been made even before the declaration of hostilities; but Elliot, the brave governor, was prepared for defence.

In August, the combined French and Spanish fleets of nearly seventy sail of the line entered the Channel, having passed the English fleet of thirty-eight sail, then cruizing off the entrance. This large force was for some days off Plymouth; the frigates captured several vessels in Cawsand bay, and one British ship of the line was taken, having mistaken the combined fleet for the English force. A contrary wind then drove the fleets back to the entrance of the Channel, when admiral Hardy, by superior seamanship, passed them, and they were unwilling to risk an action where their superior numbers could not fully act. A panic had prevailed on shore, but it subsided when the English coast was covered by its own fleet. Sickness broke out on board the combined armada, which retired to Brest, while the Spaniards suffered many serious losses of ships captured on their own

coasts.

A desperate action was fought in the North Seas, by Paul Jones, a Scotsman, who obtained a commission from the Americans, and showed much activity in privateering along the coasts of Britain, even landing in Scotland, where he pillaged the house of lord Selkirk. In September, 1779, he endeavoured to intercept the Baltic convoy, under the protection of captain Pearson, with the Serapis of forty guns, and an armed vessel of twenty. Paul Jones, with a ship of equal force, having a larger crew, engaged the Serapis, but was worsted after a close action of two hours, when a French frigate came to his assistance, which raked the Serapis, till two thirds of her crew were killed and wounded, and the ship completely disabled. But the vessel of Paul Jones was in a worse state, and foundered the next day at sea. The other English ship was obliged to surrender, being attacked by a frigate of thirty-two guns, and two smaller vessels. These particulars are narrated, as this action, so creditable to the British commander, has been

wife!" Your security is Christ. Your only dependence must be that in Christ "all fulness dwells," and that out of that fulness you may draw. Yea, that he "giveth more grace." Go at once, then, to him who has promised the weary and heavy laden rest. Go, and tell him your weakness, your inconsistency, your insufficiency. Go, with hearts desirous of serving him, and you will find yourselves able to exclaim with the apostle, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.'

But my believing brother must not suffer this subject to be without profit to him. You must take heed of allowing the ardour of your first love to grow cold. The spirit may now be willing, but the flesh is weak. There is a tendency in every heart to be slothful for eternity; but there is a restless activity in Satan which makes him walk to and fro, continually seeking whom he may devour. An endeavour will be made to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. Take heed, then, unto yourselves. "Remember Lot's wife." If you would be firm, use the means of grace which Christ has appointed. He will bless them to your soul's health. Your course must be forward. Jesus is the sure refuge. Stay not; draw nearer and nearer to him; and when, on the great day, you are permitted to see his face with joy, you will acknowledge that you have abundant reason to be thankful that you have remembered Lot's wife.-Hon. and Rev. M. Villiers.

THE ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY. NEARLY two centuries ago, Papin, a celebrated French engineer, conceived the idea of producing motion by atmospheric pressure. Within the last quarter of a century, it was revived by Mr. Medhurst, but his pamphlets on the subject attracted little attention. Other efforts were made, without success, by Messrs. Vallance and Pinkus; but to Messrs. Clegg and Samuda the credit is due, of the system which is now in operation on the Croydon railway.

In 1840 these gentlemen made some experiments, to test the practicability of the plan, on the then unfinished Thames Junction, or West London line, near Wormwood Scrubs, on which about half a mile of railway was laid down. Although labouring under many disadvantages, the experiments were so satisfactory, that

the proprietors of the Dublin and Kingstown line determined to adopt the system on part of the railroad they intended to construct. That line was opened in August, 1843, and has continued fully to work ever since. In the same year the Croydon Railway Company, convinced of the superior advantages of the new plan, applied to Parliament for permission to form a line by the side of the present road from London to Croydon, and an extension of it to Epsom, and being successful in their appeal, they soon afterwards commenced operations.

It would be impossible now to enter into a minute detail of the whole apparatus of the atmospheric railway; a limited account must, therefore, suffice. It will be remembered, that on the ordinary lines, the power propelling the body to be moved travels with it, while, in the new plan, there is a continuous iron pipe, (of the interior of which there is a representation in the engraving on the next page,) which having a piston fixed into it, so as to be air-tight, a vacuum is created, the piston consequently rushes along the tube by the pressure of the external air, and the leading carriage being attached to it, it is drawn along, and the others follow it. This pipe is laid midway between the rails, and the vacuum is caused by airpumps, worked by steam engines at intervals along the line.

The connexion between the piston (a) and the carriage is maintained by an iron plate, (bb) which passes through a sliding valve, (d) the whole length of the tube. This valve is formed by a narrow opening at the top of the tube, which is covered through its whole course by a strip of leather, riveted between iron plates. The upper layer of these valve plates is wider than the groove, and serves to prevent the external air from forcing the leather into the pipe when the vacuum is formed; the inferior layer fitting the groove when the valve is shut, and by making up the circle of the pipe, prevents the air from passing the piston. One edge of the valve is held down securely by iron bars, fastened by screw bolts to a longitudinal rib cast on the pipe on one side of the lateral opening; and the leather between the plates andthe bar being flexible, forms a hinge, as in the common pump valve. The other edge of the valve falls on the surface of the pipe, on the opposite side of the opening, forming a narrow longitudinal chamber.