The first thing that here strikes the imagination, is that wonderful diversity everywhere observable, and those numerous inequalities so conspicuous on its surface. Ов one part, I behold the gently rising hillock, scarcely perceptible amidst the surrounding level: in another, the tremendous precipice, yawning horribly over the mountain's brow! Here, a deep-sunk glen, imbosomed among rocks, recedes from the eye, and screens the little rivulet that glides along its bottom; there, the lofty summits of the Andes and the Alps, with cloud-capt tops wrapt in garments of perpetual snow*, bid defiance to vegetation or smile above the blast in sunshine, while the reverberating sound of distant thunder proclaims the raging of the storm belowt. In one place I behold the pleasantly sheltered meadow, decked in all its luxuriance of herbage, and in another a wide naked waste, or sea-like fen, losing itself in the distant prospect. Here, broad and rapid rivers separate nations at variance: there, the purling stream, partly fordable, and partly surmounted by the convenient bridge, unites and connects those who enjoy the mild blessings of peace. Here a vast tract of uncultivated heath stretches across * Snow, even in our own country, among the highland hills, is to be found all the year round, above the height of 4000 feet. Hence, from the top of Ben Nevis in Inverness-shire, and Cairngorum, the highest of the Grampians, it may be expected never to disappear, the former being 4370, and the latter 4050 feet above the level of the sea; but what are these to the Alps or the Andes, particularly the latter, some of which are known to be 19,026 feet high. A scene of this kind is thus described by Don Juan de Ulloa, who witnessed it from the top of Chimborazo, one of the Andes, where he had gone for the purpose of measuring a degree of the meridian. "When this happened, the horrid noises of tempests were heard from beneath, then discharging themselves on Quito and the neighbourhood. I saw the lightning issue from the clouds, aud heard the thunders roll far beneath me. All this time, while the tempest was rag. ing below, the mountain top, where I was placed, enjoyed a delightful serenity! across the districts of the mountains, while lakes of considerable magnitude lave their basis, and cover by their limpid waves the interjacent vallies. I have just been considering the earth as a globular body. But how, it may be asked, are we to reconcile this with those unequal appearances observable on its surface? To this I answer, That the elevation of the highest mountain bears no more proportion to the diameter of this wonderful structure, than the inequalities on the rind of an orange does to its bulk; and although these may render it, comparatively speaking, a little uneven, they do nothing to subtract from the beauty of its appearance, or the general roundness of its figure. Deformities indeed they cannot be called; for if the human mind delights in variety, these inequalities present us with a variety the most pleasing and picturesque ; and if the contemplative philosopher is captivated by the multiplicity of nature's productions, these furnish food for the most keen researcher into the wonders of Omnipotence. But a gratification of taste for the sublime and beautiful were not the only objects the Creator had in view in this diversity of the earth's surface. MOUNTAINS AND VALLIES have other great and important uses. Is Health the greatest of all earthly blessings?-to one class of valetudinarians the mountain breeze is beneficial, while to a nother the genial warmth of the well sheltered valley produces the most salutary effects. Does the east-wind rage with fury, or cold, with its freezing particles, visit us from the north? the deep-sunk bosom of the valley, or the lee-side of the mountain, defend us from the fury of the tempest, and shelter us from the raging storm. By this happy diversity of towering mountain and sinking dale, we have a variety of soils in a small compass, and VOL. II. F are are furnished with the productions of different climates almost at our doors. These serve also for the harbour and lodgement of a variety of animals that would have been ill accommodated in the open plain. They are also convenient not only for the generating of metals and minerals, but for digging them out with infinitely less trouble and expense than if they had been situate at considerable distances below a level surface; and mountains are the birthplace of many valuable Mines and precious Stones.* In the burning regions of the torrid zone, ridges of mountains running from East to West arrest with their towering heads the vapours in their flight, and condensed into raia, force back the fugitives in cooling and refreshing showers. In places where Earthquakes prevail, mountains are couverted into funnels, for the purpose of vomiting forth those volcanic eruptions of liquid fire, which, but for such vents, might have shaken kingdoms from their foundations and swallowed up provinces in one mighty gulph. But the most general use to which providence seems to have applied mountains and vallies, and consequently, without doubt, the most important one for which they were designed, is the elevation of SPRINGS, and convenient distribution of WATERS, agreeable to the language of the Royal Psalmist: "They go up by the mountains, they go down by the vallies, unto the place which thou hast appointed for them." And this use alone would have afforded us abundant motives of gratitude and thankfulness, although there had been no other, that from mountains and vallies we are supplied with these inestimable blessings SPRINGS *To go no farther than the mountain of Cairngorum, formerly ment oned, it is celebrated for Agates Calcedonies, and quartzose Crystals of various tints, which are much esteemed by lapidaries. SPRINGS AND RIVERS. Water is not only one of those necessary elements of which our very means of existence are composed, but-it administers to our wants and conveniences on a variety of occasions, and in many different shapes. With water our choicest bread is mixed, and it makes part of the composition of our favourite beverage. By water the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heavens quench their thirst; and by means of it the lofty cedar of Lebanon derives its nutriment, as well as the tender herb that creepeth against the wall. By this necessary and useful fluid we are assisted in many a tedious and laborious operation :-Formed into Canals it helps the deep-laden barge forward in its progress ;-confined into Dams it sets the ponderous mill-wheel in motion ;—or, evaporated into Steam it puts in play the massy arms of the huge engine. But how does it come to pass that water is rendered thus serviceable?—It is partly owing to the wise manner in which the great Creator distributes it from his treasures, by causing Springs take their rise in elevated situations, and partly from the general law impressed upon fluids to regain their level, that water is impelled forward in its course, and made to surmount so many obstacles in its progress to the sea, while its suitable consistency fits it for being easily turned aside, and diverted into such channels as the necessities of man may require. If, as might have been expected, Springs had been confined in general to the lower situations of the earth, `extensive tracts must have been left unwatered, while plains in their immediate neighbourhood would have been deprived of their fertility by inundation, or rendered pestilential by stagnant waters pent up without the means of escape. Had water been deprived of that admirable property of rising to its level, how liable would it have been to be ob structed in its progress by every insignificant hillock, or trifling rise of the ground; and, with respect to its consistency, besides being rendered incapable of being converted to so many useful purposes, had it been thinner how would it have answered the purpose of supporting so many burdens, or keeping within its bounds; had it been thicker how would it have been adapted for quenching thirst, or ascending the minute tubes of the vegetable tribe. But by this wise and beneficial arrangement, Rivers being elevated at their head, in situations at a distance and remote from the sea, are necessitated to pass over a large tract of country before they lose themselves in the main, and following the course of those numerous sunken heds made for them in the vallies, they are at once confined within their proper limits, and made to wind in many a lengthened turn, to the more copious diffusion of their benefits, than would have otherwise been the case; while their pliable nature renders them easily turned aside as they glide along, to water those fields removed at a small distance from their banks, or for other purposes to which the ingenuity of man may make them subservient. MINERAL AND MEDICINAL WATERS Are also amply provided by nature, and dispense their salutary virtues in a variety of situations. These are not so numerous as the other, but are sufficiently so for the purposes to which they are adapted; for all men, and every living creature need food, but we have reason to be thankful that all need not the aid of medicine. Many there are, however, who stand in need of their beneficial influences, and many an invalid have they been the means of restoring to renovated powers, and the blessings of health. Like the pool of Bethesda they may be said to be of a healing nature; but blessed be the adorable Physician who has opened up these fountains, that they have been found to be for |