the rain water on its surface, gave it time to evaporate, particularly in summer, before it could penetrate the ground. At present this bed of leaves not existing, and the bosom of the earth being opened by the plough, the rain, which is enabled to sink into it, establishes in it more durable and abundant reservoirs. This particular case, however, does not overturn the more general and more important doctrine, that cutting down woods, more especially on heights, in general diminishes the quantity of rain, and the springs resulting from it, by preventing the clouds from stopping and discharging their waters on the forests. Kentucky itself

ཏ

affords a proof of this, as well as all the other states of America; for a number of brooks are pointed out, which were never dried up fifteen years ago, and new fail: every summer. Others have totally disappeared, and in New Jersey several mills have been relinquished on this account. It must be observed too, that formerly

the beds of the rivers being incumbered with trees blown down, and reeds, detained their waters more, which, now they are cleaned, they suffer to run off too fast.

"Another phenomenon observed in America, may perhaps be explained by means of the fact I have just mentioned. You cannot cross any forest in this continent without meeting with fallen trees; and it is remarkable that the root is only a superficial tuft, in the shape of a mushroom, and scarcely eighteen inches deep for a tree seventy feet high. If the trees put out no tap-root, was it not that they might avail themselves of the superficial humi dity that covered them, and the rich mould arising from the decayed leaves, in which they found a substance much preferable to the interior strata, that re mained dry, and consequently more hard to penetrate? And now, as they have contracted this habit through a lapse of ages, ages are requisite to change it." Volney, p. 57.

155. Negroes and Narcissuses. There are certain tribes of negroes. who take for the Deity of the day the first thing they see or meet with `in the morning. Many of our fine ladies, and some of our very fine gentlemen, are followers of the same sect; though by aid of the looking-glass they secure a constancy as to the object of their devotion,

156. An Anecdote.

We here in England received a very high character of Lord E-, during. his stay abroad. "Not unlikely, Sir," replied the traveller, " a dead dog at a distance is said to smell like musk."

157 The Pharos at Alexandria. Certain full and highly-wrought dissua sives from sensual indulgences, in the works of theologians as well as of satirists and story-writers, may, not unaptly, remind one of the Pharos; the many lights of which appeared at a distance.

as one, and this as a polar star..so as more often to occasion wrecks than pre vent them.

At the base of the Pharos the name of the reigning monarch was engraved, on a composition, which the artist well knew would last no longer than the king's life. Under this, and cut deep in the marble itself, was his own name and dedication: "Sostratos of Gyndos, son of Dexiteles, to the Gods, Protectors of Sailors."So will it be with the Georgium Sidus,, the Ferdinandia, &c. &c.-Flattery's, Plaister of Paris will crumble away, and under it we shall read the names of Herschel, Piozzi, and their com-, peers.

158. Sense and Common Sense.

I have noticed two main evils in philosophizing. The first is the absurdity of demanding proof for the very facts. which constitute the nature of him who demands it a proof for those primary

and unceasing revelations of self-consciousness, which every possible proof must pre-suppose ; reasoning, for instance, prò and con, concerning the existence of the power of reasoning. Other truths may be ascertained; but these are certainty itself, (all at least which we mean by the word) and are the measure of every thing else which we deem certain. The second evil is that of mistaking for such facts mere general prejudices, and those opinions that, having been habitually taken for granted, are dignified with the name of COMMON SENSE. Of these, the first is the more injurious to the reputation, the latter more detrimental to the pro. gress of philosophy. In the affairs of common life we very properly appeal to common sense; but it is absurd to reject the results of the microscope from the negative testimony of the naked eye. Knives are sufficient for the table and the market,.. but for the purposes of science we must dissect with the lancet.