4. These animals often go together in companies; and if they happen to meet one of the human species, remote from succour, they seldom show him favour. Sometimes, however, they spare those who fall into their hands. A negro boy was carried off by one of them, and lived with them upwards of a year.

5. On his escape and return home, he described many of them as being larger than men ; and he said that they never attempted to injure him. They frequently attack the elephant: they beat him with clubs, and oblige him to leave that part of the forest which they claim as their own.— When one of these animals dies, the rest cover the body with leaves and branches.

6. The manners of the Ouran-Outang, when in confine ment, are gentle, and, for the most part, harmless, perfect. ly devoid of that disgusting ferocity so conspicuous in some of the larger baboons and monkeys. It is mild and docile, and may be taught to perform with dexterity a variety of entertaining actions. Vosmaer's account of one of these animals, which was brought into Holland in the year 1776, and lodged in the menagerie of the prince of Orange, is so exceedingly curious, that we shall present the reader with an extract from it.

7. "This animal showed no symptoms of fierceness and malignity. It was fond of being in company, and appeared to be very sensible of the kindness of those who had the care of it. Often when they retired, it would throw itself on the ground, as if in despair, uttering lamentable cries, and tearing in pieces the linen within its reach. Its keeper having been accustomed to sit near it on the ground, it frequently took the hay off its bed, and laid it by its side, and seemed by all its actions to invite him to be seated

nearer.

8. "Its usual manner of walking was on all-fours, but it could also walk on its two hind-feet only. It ate almost every thing that was given to it; but its chief food was bread, roots, and all sorts of fruit, especially strawberries. When presented with strawberries on a plate, it was extremely pleasant to see the animal take them up one by one, with a fork, and put them into its mouth, holding at the same time the plate in the other hand.

9. "Its common drink was water; but it also very wil

lingly drank all sorts of wine, and particularly Malaga. After drinking, it wiped its lips; and after eating, if presented with a toothpick, it would use it in a proper manner. On shipboard, it ran freely about the vessel, played with the sailors, and went, like them, into the kitchen for its mess. At the approach of night, it lay down to sleep, and prepared its bed, by shaking well the hay on which it slept, and putting it in proper order. It would then carefully draw up the coverlet. This animal lived only seven months after it had been brought into Holland.”

10. The Ouran-Outang, described by Buffon, exhibited a still greater degree of sagacity. It walked upon two legs, even when it carried burdens. Its air was melancholy, and its deportment grave. Unlike the baboon and the monkey, whose motions are violent and appetites capricious, whose fondness for mischief is remarkable, and whose obedience proceeds only from fear, this animal was slow in its motions, and a look was sufficient to keep it in awe.

11. I have seen it, says Buffon, give its hand to show the company to the door: I have seen it sit at table, unfold its napkin, wipe its lips, make use of the spoon and the fork to carry victuals to its mouth; pour out its drink into a glass, and touch glasses when invited; take a cup and saucer, lay them on the table, put in sugar, pour out its tea, leave it to cool, and then drink it.

12. All this it would do without any other instigation than the signs or commands of its master, and often of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffensive: it even approached strangers with respect; and came rather to receive caresses than to offer injuries. It was particularly fond of comfits, which every body was ready to give it; but as it had a defluxion upon the breast, so much sugar contributed to increase the disorder, and to shorten its life. It continued at Paris but one summer, and died in London.

13. We are told by Pyrard, that the Ouran-Outangs are found at Sierra Leona; where they are strong and wellformed, and so industrious, that, when properly trained and fed, they work like servants; that, when ordered, they pound any substances in a mortar; and that they are frequently sent to fetch water, in small pitchers, from the rivers. After filling the pitchers, they carry them on their heads to the door of the dwelling; but if they are not soon

taken off, the animals suffer them to fall to the ground. When they perceive the pitcher to be overturned and broken, they utter loud lamentations.

14. The form and organs of this animal bear so near a resemblance to those of men, that we are surprised to find them productive of so few advantages. The tongue, and all the organs of the voice, are similar, and yet the animal is dumb; the brain is formed in the same manner as that of man, and yet the creature wants reason; an evident proof, as Buffon finely observes, that no arrangement of matter will give mind; and that the body, how nicely soever formed, is formed to very limited ends, when there is not infused a soul to direct its operations.

SECTION V.

The four seasons.

1. WHO is this beautiful virgin that approaches, clothed in a robe of light green? She has a garland of flowers on her head, and flowers spring up wherever she sets her foot. The snow which covered the fields, and the ice which was in the rivers, melt away when she breathes upon them.

2. The young lambs frisk about her, and the birds warble in their little throats to welcome her coming; and when they see her, they begin to choose their mates, and to build their nests. Youths and maidens, have you seen this beautiful virgin? If you have, tell me who is she, and what is her name.

1. WHO is this that comes from the south, thinly clad in a light transparent garment? Her breath is hot and sultry; she seeks the refreshment of the cool shade; she seeks the clear streams, the crystal brooks, to bathe her languid limbs. The brooks and rivulets fly from her, and are dried up at her approach. She cools her parched lips with berries, and the grateful acid of fruits; the seedy melon, the sharp apple, and the red pulp of the juicy cherry, which are poured out plentifully around her.

2. The tanned haymakers welcome her coming; and the sheepshearer, who clips the fleeces of his flock with his sounding shears. When she comes, let me lie under the thick shade of a spreading beech tree;-let me walk with

her in the early morning, when the dew is yet upon the grass; let me wander with her in the soft twilight, when the shepherd shuts his fold, and the star of evening appears. Who is she that comes from the south? Youths, and maidens, tell me, if you know, who is she, and what is her

name.

1. WHO is he that comes with sober pace, stealing upon us unawares? His garments are red with the blood of the grape, and his temples are bound with a sheaf of ripe wheat. His hair is thin and begins to fall, and the auburn is mixed with mournful gray. He shakes the brown nuts from the

tree.

2. He winds the horn, and calls the hunters to their sport. The gun sounds. The trembling partridge and the beautiful pheasant flutter, bleeding in the air, and fall dead at the sportsman's feet. Who is he that is crowned with the wheat-sheaf? Youths and maidens, tell me, if you know, who is he, and what is his name.

1. WHO is he that comes from the north, clothed in furs and warm wool? He wraps his cloak close about him. His head is bald; his beard is made of sharp icicles. He loves the blazing fire, high piled upon the hearth. He binds skates to his feet, and skims over the frozen lakes. His breath is piercing and cold, and no little flower dares to peep above the surface of the ground, when he is by.

2. Whatever he touches turns to ice. If he were to strike you with his cold hand, you would be quite stiff and dead, like a piece of marble. Youths and maidens, do you see him? He is coming fast upon us, and soon he will be here. Tell me, if you know, who is he, and what is his

name.

SECTION VI.

Divine Providence.

BARBAULD.

1. THE glorious sun is set in the west; the night-dews fall; and the air which was sultry, becomes cool. The flowers fold up their coloured leaves: they fold themselves up, and hang their heads on the slender stalk. The chickens are gathered under the wing of the hen, and are at rest:

F

the hen herself is at rest also. The little birds have ceased their warbling; they are asleep on the boughs, each one with his head behind his wing. There is no murmur of bees around the hive, or amongst the honeyed woodbines; they have done their work, and they lie close in their waxen cells.

2. The sheep rest upon their soft fleeces, and their loud bleating is no more heard amongst the hills. There is no sound of a number of voices, or of children at play, or the trampling of busy feet, and of people hurrying to and fro. The smith's hammer is not heard upon the anvil; nor the harsh saw of the carpenter. All men are stretched on their quiet beds: and the child sleeps upon the breast of its mother. Darkness is spread over the skies, and darkness is upon the ground: every eye is shut, and every hand is still. 3. Who takes care of all people, when they are sunk in sleep when they cannot defend themselves, nor see if dan ger approaches? There is an eye that never sleeps; there is an eye that sees in dark night, as well as in the bright sunshine. When there is no light of the sun, nor of the moon; when there is no lamp in the house, nor any little star twirkling through the thick clouds; that eye sees eve ry where, in all places, and watches continually over all the families of the earth. The eye that sleeps not is God's: his hand is always stretched out over us. He made sleep to refresh us when we are weary: he made night that we might sleep in quiet.

4. As the mother moves about the house with her fin ger on her lips, and stills every little noise, that her infant be not disturbed; as she draws the curtains around its bed, and shuts out the light from its tender eyes; so God draws the curtains of darkness around us; so he makes all things to be hushed and still, that his large family may sleep in peace.

5. Labourers spent with toil, and young children, and every little humming insect, sleep quietly, for God watches over you. You may sleep, for he never sleeps: you may close your eyes in safety, for his eye is always open to protect you.

6. When the darkness is passed away, and the beams of the morning sun strike through your eye-lids, begin the day with praising God, who has taken care of you through the night. Flowers, when you open again, spread your