mentioned, the disc of this planet has been observed to be crossed by zones or belts, which may be analogous to, and answer the purposes of those of Jupiter. Saturn is visible to the naked eye, and shines in the heavens with a pale feeble light.

The Georgian, or Georgium Sidus, is the remotest of all the planets yet discovered, and was brought to notice so recently as the 13th March, 1781, by that indefatigable astronomer Dr. HERSCHEL. Six satellites have already been discovered attend ing on this distant planet. Its magnitude is supposed to be up wards of 80 times that of the earth, and its periodical revol ution performed in something more than 83 of our years. Through a telescope of a small magnifying power, the Geor gian appears like a star of the 6th or 7th magnitude, and is only visible to the naked eye, in the absence of the moon in a clear night.

These planets, with their attendant satellites and other ap pendages, are carried round the sun in elliptical orbits differ ing but little from circles, by which means the temperature of their seasons must be wisely proportioned, and pretty equally kept up. To prevent too frequent eclipses they move not in the same planes; and that they may not interfere nor clash with each other, they revolve all in the same direction from the west, away easterly. The greater part of them are known, and the whole are supposed to turn round on their axis in the same manner that our earth does, by which means they must also be favoured with the alternate succession of day and night; and as the revolution of the satellites of Ju piter is known to a nicety, corresponding to that of what we know of our moon, there can be no doubt, but those planets. which have such attendants, are equally benefited by them. Of the spots of Venus and of Mars, the belts of Jupiter and rings of Saturn, we can say little; but let it be remembered, that we are surrounded by an atmosphere, the appearance of which may not easily be accounted for by the inhabitants of those distant bodies.. That the planets are inhabited, we have every reason to believe, from the provision that is made for their comfort, and other analogy they bear to our own inhabited globe. It is true, that our views and discoveries respecting those distant orbs, must be imperfect and limited in this present state; but what we know not now, we may per haps know hereafter; although it is not to be supposed, that our finite capacities, even in a more exalted state and enlarged sphere of vision, shall ever be able fully to comprehend the mighty works of the Creator of the Universe, or utter forth all HIS maise,

C. P.

Evening Instructions;

OR, A

THER'S ADVICE TO HIS SON ON THE CHOICE OF A TRADE

THE TIN-PLATE WORKER.

IN-PLATE is a composition of iron and block-tin, not meltd together, but the iron, in bars, is cased over with tin, and hen flatted or drawn out by means of a mill.

It is the business of the Tin-plate Worker to form the tin heets into all the various articles of his manufacture, such is kettles, sauce-pans, lanthorns, lamps, &c.

The principal instruments he makes use of for the purpose re, a pair of shears to cut the tin into the proper size and shape; a polished anvil for preserving and giving it a better gloss, soldering irons, punches and hammers of various kinds. Having cut out his tin to the form and size wanted, the Tinplate Worker rounds it in any manner he pleases, by means of a hammer on the anvil; by his punches he makes holes where necessary; and with a little solder (a composition of block-tin and lead) aided by a small sprinkling of rosin, and the help of his irons, he makes his joints of the greatest firm

ness.

Tin being less liable to rust than iron, copper, or lead, is advantageously used for the inside covering of metallic vessels, and this process, which it would be dangerous to use them without, is called tinning. The chief tin mines in the known world are those of Cornwall; and the Phoenicians are said to have visited these islands, for the purpose of get ting tin, some centuries before the Christian æra.

An apprentice to a Tin-plate Worker, in Edinburgh, is bound five years without, and seven years with, the freedom, and gets 25. per week for the first two years; 3s. per week the second two; 4s. per week the third two; and 5s.. per week for the seventh year. Journeymen get from 16s. to. 20s. per week, set wages, but most commonly they work by the piece, and gain from 20s. to 25s.

IT

DESCRIPTION OF THE

RUTHWELL PARISH BANK.

(Concluded from p. 468.)

deserves to be noticed, however, that the Edinburgh 'Bank for savings,' differs considerably from the Ruthwell Parish Bank in this, that it holds out no peculiar encouragement to the accumulation of capital; a circumstance which deprives it of a very striking advantage. Its object is simply to sup ply a place of safe deposit for small sums; and 4 per cent allowed on every 12s. 6d. which have been placed in the bank for twelve months. Even this establishment, however, ap pears likely to be of incalculable benefit to the lower ranks, as it affords them facilities which they could not otherwise possess for securing their little savings.

There is nothing, with regard to their worldly substance, that the great body of the people have such cause to dread as the want of support in the season of infirmity Whilst youthful vigour remains they can generally earn enough for subsistence and have something to spare; but an old age of de pendence and want is the common lot of the labourer, and persons in this rank frequently look forward to grey hairs with a degree of apprehension bordering on despair. This is evinced in many ways, and in none more than by the anx iety which they show to become members of friendly socie ties, and by the efforts they make to pay up their quarterly contributions.

I have now to suggest what seems to me an improvement on the plan of the Parish Bank. The original intention, it will be remarked, was to leave the contributors perfectly free and unshackled in their payments, both with regard to their period and amount; and thus to obviate a hardship arising from the fines and forfeitures necessary to the existence of Friendly or Benefit Societies. It has been found by experi ence, however, that the chief defect of the new scheme lies in the very remedy proposed, and that, though it may occasionally bear hard on a contributor to be bound to pay annually a stated sum, under the pain of forfeiting the whole, it is, notwithstanding useful, that some strong motive should ex ist for regular payments. The reason must be obvious to all that know any thing of human nature. What we have no pressing motive to do at a particular time, we are apt to de lay till it is beyond our power to do it at all. It is a sense of this weakness, and a desire to counteract it, which has

evidently

idently given rise to the Menage*; and from the same use the Friendly Society derives its chief value.

Reflections of this kind, united to the experience of what is actually taken place in the management of the Parish ank alluded to, convince me, that it would contribute not little to the prosperity of such institutions, to fix a certain onthly, quarterly, or annual sum, which every member shall e under the necessity of contributing; and to make the foriture of a certain portion of the interest, or some such penty, the effect of failing to fulfil the conditions. The sum ould be fixed so low as to place the payment of it within e reach of every labourer without any inconvenience,-say, erhaps, Sixpence per month. This would not prevent memers from paying in more, should they find themselves able to ford it; and indeed, by keeping the institution always bere their eyes, it would be a continual inducement for them > strain every nerve to increase their growing stock.

I cannot conclude without recommending this scheme most arnestly to the attention of the public. It is no theoretical peculation, but has already stood the test of experience, and conceive myself authorized to promise from its more geneal adoption, the greatest advantages to the community.

An industrious and frugal population, is the pillar of the tate at once its ornament and its support. This is enough or generous hearts, and generosity is the characteristic of he age and of the country. If, however, there are any who augh at such a motive, it will not perhaps be amiss to inform hem, that their own interest is concerned in the adoption of some effectual expedient for promoting the welfare of the aborious class. Many parts of Scotland have hitherto been happily freed from a poor rate; but who does not see that our lower classes are rapidly advancing to that state, in which the law must universally be put in force, if speedy measures are not taken to prevent it? To those, therefore, who join with me in looking on the poor rates as an evil, I say, for your own sakes, make the poorer ranks industrious-give them every facility in their endeavours to support themselves:give them learning-give them good morals-give them religion-set them at least an example of these in your own conduct; and, amongst other acts of judicious and well directed charity, do not reject so cheap an expedient, as to give your countenance to their Friendly Societies and Parish Banks. RUTHWELL, 22d March, 1814. H. D.

Menage, the name of a club kept by a Huckster, for the purpose of depositing savings, but instead of paying interest for the money sa deposited, the manager receives a premium for his trouble.

A VISIT TO A WITCH!

TO THE PUBLISHERS OF THE CHEAP MAGAZINE. Gentlemen,

IN No. V. of your first volume, and in the Muy Numb

for the present year, you have done something to do aw imaginary terrors arising from the dread of Spectres and Ap paritions; but how comes it to pass that you have said not word concerning WITCHES! Is it for fear that some of wrinkled crew should cast their cantraps over your efforts gainst the powers of darkness, and blast the circulation your Magazine? or is it that you do not consider a belief witchcraft among the existing superstitions of the day? Th you are not actuated by the first motive, you have it in your power to prove by giving this a place in your useful Miscel Jany;-that a superstitious belief that old wives are witches exists in our time we have a melancholy proof, if the following instance which has lately appeared in several newspapers be correctly reported.

"Lately, in the upper end of Peebles-shire, a young man, a shepherd, being dissatisfied with the quantity of milk which some of his cows yielded, shrewdly suspected they were be witched by an old woman, who lived about fifteen miles from the spot, whose great age excited the boor's suspicions. Scor ing aboon the breath being the only remedy prescribed by the superstition which yet remains in that part of the country, from an evil of such a desperate nature, the owner of the cattle determined to try the cure, and set out for the resid ence of the supposed delinquent, and finding the poor old woman at home cut her severely on the forehead. The fel low was immediately brought before the justices, who very properly inflicted on him a heavy pecuniary penalty, and dismissed him with a suitable admonition."

This brings to my recollection a story. I have read in the "Spectator," and as it may be of use to those who have not profitted by the increasing light of more than a century, (which has elapsed since Sir ROGER DE COVERLEY paid his visit to the witch,) I shall here give it.

"As I was walking with my friend, SIR ROGER, by the side of one of his woods, an old woman applied herself to me for my charity. The Knight told me, that this very old wo man had the reputation of a witch all over the country, that her lips were observed to be always in motion, and that there

was

* The paper from which this story is taken, is No. 117 of The Spectator, published June 14th, 1711.