come till it was crowded, to which they might be attracted by talent and character, of how much be nefit it might be? Let us have but one stich church, together with a half-dozen small auxiliary chapels, placed in the heart of the poor crowded districts, and the fruits of benevolence, and of true Christian charity, would soon appear. The condition of the sister establishment may make us all think. Upon her the storm has come neither from the south nor the north, neither from bigoted Catholics, nor yet sour Presbyterians. Her deadly and dangerous enemies are those of her own house, the neglected people of her charge, who know nothing about their higher clergy save as wealthy pluralists or sinecurists, and greedy tithe-collectors. Where. ever small meeting-houses have been opened in the poorest neighbourhoods of Edinburgh, if there was nothing to pay, save a half-penny at the plate or not at discretion, with a reasonable seat-rent, little congregations have been formed and have soon been crowded, even when the preacher was very inferior to the auxiliaries whom our clergy could find among their unprovided young friends. The ex

the instruction of children, is a feature in their discipline deserving of imitation among us. Catholics are not so lazy in their worship; their service begins at an earlier hour of the morning, and the afternoon is either principally or wholly devoted to the children, who are instructed in presence of their parents; not by deputy, but by the priest. We may call his wicked pains. Let us take equal pains to better purpose.

The extreme poverty, and dense population of the Old Town parishes, place à gulf between the people and the clergyman, which nothing but the zeal of a primitive apostle, or of a modern Catholic priest-if we dare mention so obnoxious a person-could overleap. Now what we would propose is, that there should be small chapels, halls, or school-rooms, where poor neighbourhoods,—the communities of our closes and wynds, that would shrink from our fine churches, as they are at present constituted,might assemble on Sundays, and where their parish ministers might sometimes meet them, -places of worship which they should have a claim to enter, where the seats would be their own, of right,―connected with their lodging-rooms, for example, or attached in some simple way that might be devised. The regular clergyman never could be able to take care of these auxiliary sanctuaries, but he might frequently visit them; and in this city he could never want curates; nor would the maintenance of this religious police establishment cost much to each of the Old Town parishes. And if it did, how could a state or municipality expend part of its revenues to better purpose than in mak-treme care which the Catholic clergy bestow on ing religious and moral discipline what they ought to be the main object of their sway. It would, to be sure, be better that people of all degrees of rank and fortune would meet together under the same roof of worship. But this, it appears, does not suit our habits; and what are called gratis sittings in the great churches are reprehensible on many accounts. Distinctions, invidious every where, when people assemble for a common object, are peculiarly so in church. The "Sit thou there, for I am richer," is a principle as injurious A SEAT IN CHURCH.-A very genteel-looking to the wealthy man who acts on it, as to the poor young man was seen to enter a church in time of man who is insulted by its display. Flesh and blood service; he paused at the entrance; the congre will rebel, and there is no true wisdom in rousing gation stared; he advanced a few steps, and detheir corruption, especially in church. Nor do dis-liberately surveying the whole assembly, senting meeting-houses in the least obviate the ne-menced a slow march up the broad aisle; not a cessity of small places of worship for the very poor. pew was opened; the audience were too busy for The congregations attending these have to maintain civility; he wheeled, and in the same manner per their own minister; and though they manage to formed a march, stepping as if to "Roslin Castle, have their seat-rents much lower than in the Es- or the "Dead March in Saul," and disappeared. A tablished churches, for which large sums in stipend few moments after he re-entered with a huge block are raised, the rents are generally far higher than upon his shoulders, as heavy as he could well stage in country parishes and small towns. At any rate, under; his countenance was immoveable; again they are not the resort of the nommade poor popu- the people stared, half-rose from their seats, with lation, for whose wants it is desirable to provide their books in their hands.-At length he placed by small auxiliary chapels; nurseries from which, the block in the very centre of the principal pa as they throve, drafts would, from time to time, be sage, and seated himself upon it. Then, for the made to the regular churches. We must not, we first time, the reproach was felt. Every pew fear, presume to cite with approbation Catholic in the church was instantly flung open. But-n cities, where the churches stand ever open-where the stranger was a gentleman; he came not there all are entitled to enter the wide area. But there is for disturbance; he moved not; smiled not; but a medium between this and our custom of selfish ex-preserved the utmost decorum, until the service clusion, as there is between the Catholic doctrine was concluded, when he shouldered his block, and of Confession, and our system of indifference and walked out. non-interference. Because our clergy are not to confess their flock, are they never to converse with them?

If there were but one of our fine large churches open to the public at large, to which the young,

the stranger, all who chose to enter, should be wel-'

com

door

A Frenchman, having a violent pain in the breast and stomach, went to a physician for relief. The doctor inquir accent, laying his hand on his breast, said, "Var ing where his trouble lay, the Frenchman, with a dolorous have one very bad pain in my portmanteau," (meaning his

chest.)

66

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

NOVEMBER.

Next was NOVEMBER; the full grown and fat,
As fed with lard, and that right well might seem;
For he had been a fatting hogs of late,

That his brows with sweat did reek and steam.

Shepherd's Calendar.

The

tastic tricks" are played with the crocus, and other flowers. The first of the month is All Saints' Day; the 5th that festival of bigotry, the Gunpowder Plot, which, however, receives no notice in Scotland, save from Edinburgh Castle. Even that would be more honoured in the breach than the observance. The 9th is the Lord Mayor's Shew, now a good deal shorn of its splendours, and somewhat of its "wassail." The 11th, Martinmas term, when THIS gloomy month, "when Englishmen hang or the landlord gives a friendly call, and lasses may be seen drown themselves," was named wind-monath by the old skimming about, with a band-box under one arm, the English, and also blod or blot-monath, as in it field fodder other hand keeping their petticoats out of the mud, that and meat for cattle getting scarce, cows, sheep, and pigs they may go feat and trig to their new homes; a porter or were killed, and salted for winter and spring use. Hence a friend following with " that mystery," the kist. The 24th in Scotland we have the phrase, “The winter Mart." In is remembered in England as the anniversary of the Great England, they had Martinmas beef. A goodly crop of Storm, which commenced on the 24th Nov. 1703, and puddings, sausages, potted meats, and tripes, are still going raged for three days, committing fearful ravages. at this season in Ireland, the Highlands, and in the primi- damage in London alone was computed at two millions. tive parts of England. This is one of the most domestic About eight thousand vessels were destroyed, or blown months of the year; one might call it the fire-side month. away and never more heard of. Innumerable trees were The modern social festivities of the season do not begin for uprooted, in many places. The Eddystone lighthouse was six or seven weeks after its commencement, and it is in town overturned into the sea. Many lives were lost. Some of the month of needle-work, reading, and music, in the long the events told of the storm in the island of Barbadoes last evenings;—in the cottage, of the wheel, and the knitting-year appeared incredible; still more incredible is the auneedles; hoes, and rakes, and shoes are now mended; bee-thenticated fact, of a stone of four hundred weight, near hives and baskets made. Even the animals now make Shaftesbury, being then torn up and carried seven yards by themselves snug, and retire to their hoards in their winter the force of the wind. Queen Anne ordered a National Fast harrows-repair to their town-houses, shall we say. The at the time of this storm. quirrel, the dormouse, and the bat, are no longer seen abroad. Moles are busy preparing nests for their young of the Eext spring. Planting is still going forward both in garden and woodland. "The cottager, who puts an elm or ash into s hedge, or an apple-tree into his garden," says some one, is a patriot in his way. It is an increase of the national wealth, of the best kind." We forget what English genleman last year planted trees, with his poor neighbours, in ammemoration of the Reform Bill. It was a noble idea. TREES have now nearly all shed their leaves. The walnut the first in succession to drop its foliage; next in order horse-chestnut, sycamore, lime, ash, elm; and the apple ad peach in the gardens. The oak and beech retain their dry Test-coloured leaves till they are pushed off by the young Eage. BIRDS never leave us: The plover is now often ard; and green-finches are seen in flocks; field-fares are paring, and the robin's plaintive note still comes from the cottage gable, or the mossy pales of the garden. "On the haw-clustered thorn, a motley flock, Of various plume, and various note, Discordant chirp; the linnet and the thrush With spackled breast; the blackbird yellow-beaked, The goldfinch, field-fare, and the sparrow pert."

ST. ANDREW'S DAY, 30TH Nov.

St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland and of MusCOVY, was one of the Apostles. This day is now observed, the rivers of New Holland. by his Scottish disciples, on the Ganges, the Mississippi, and It is also a great day at home, particularly among "the free and accepted masons."

BOOKS OF THE MONTH. SARRANS' MEMOIR OF LAFAYETTE, and History of the Revolution of the Three Days, is the most important book that has lately appeared. It will be read with great interest by those who like to examine the hidden springs which regulate the movements of great events.

MEMOIRS OF THE DUCHESS OF ABRANTES.-Two more volumes have been published; another volume of the new edition of Byron's works has appeared; and a volume of the FAMILY LIBRARY, forming a history of PETER THE GREAT. The last month has, however, produced little but a few Annuals; and for Perennials, if we are to have any, we must wait till 1833.

OF PERIODICALS, the Foreign Quarterly and Edinburgh Review, have appeared. The latter contains several ponderous articles, but sensible and useful, nevertheless; that

on Railroads will be read with interest.

BOOK OF BUTTERFLIES.

FLOWERS. This is the time," says Mr. Leigh Hunt, ehe has written so charmingly of the months, "for doestic cultivators of flowers to be very busy in preparmy for those spring and winter ornaments, which used to thought the work of magic. They may plant hyacinths, Swarf tulips, polyanthus-narcissus, or any other moderatef growing bulbous roots, either in water-glasses, or in ts of light dry earth, to flower early in their apartments. In glasses, the bulb should be just in the water. If in pe, just covered with the earth." This pretty and fancifal species of flower-gardening has been much improved and extended, even in the short period elapsed since Mr. Haut wrote. By varying the form of the pot, twenty fan-called forth about triple the number of biographers and

A very pretty, cheap work, highly embellished with coloured butterflies, and the gaudy moths of tropical regions. The natural history, or descriptive part, is by Captain BROWN. This will make a delightful present to young people, and is worth a score of the trumpery annuals, MEMOIR OF SIR WALTER SCOTT; with Critical Notices of his Writings. By David Vedder. Dundee: Allardice. Remembering the fate of Swift, Pope, Johnson, Byron we were in tribulation lest the death of Sir Walter Scott had

anecdote-mongers. We trust we are quit for our fears; the sketches and portraits Sir Henry Moncreiff and D As a specimen of the work, w the smaller world of letters has maintained a praiseworthy Thomson are included. decorum and delicacy on this subject. Very little clish-ma- give the following interesting notice of claver has yet been vented-a low word this, we agree with Dr. Jamieson, but an emphatic one. Of the Notices of Sir Walter Scott which have appeared, we consider Mr. Vedder's the most valuable, and for this undeniable reason, that instead of giving us merely the author's opinion, we have the most acute critiques of the Edinburgh Review, and of some of our ablest writers, on the works of Scott. The concentration of those scattered lights is highly creditable to the judgment and good taste of Mr. Vedder. These opinions, intermixed with a Narrative of Sir Walter Scott's literary life, form the subject of this cheap memoir, which those who wish to become acquainted with the history of his progress in literature will find a useful acquisition.

LITERARY GEMS. Selected by A. Thomson, Teacher of ed a course of lectures on chemistry, in which he al

excels. Indeed, he had, very early in life, given indicati of those superior talents, and that ardent love of scien made his first appearance as an author, in a pamphlet p and literature, which have ever marked his career. E lished at Cupar-Fife, on the Leslie Controversy. It written in the form of a letter, addressed to Professor Pla fair; the brochure abounds in talent, wit and genuine la It was published anonymously; and, to this m or Latter mour. is not generally known to have been his production. vindicates in it, very powerfully, the divines of the Chur of Scotland, from the imputation of a want of mathemati talent, a reproach which he thought Professor Playfair m Dr. Chalmers had not then adopt thrown upon them.

the patience of the reader, abounds with many enlightened views, and much valuable matter, regarding the poor laws, and all the other branches of Christian economics. In 1819, Dr Chalmers was translated to the new church and parish of St. John's, where he prosecuted these plans with renewed vigour, till 1823, when he was elected professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews, where he imparted a very different character to this course from the mere worldly cast which it too generally assumes in our universities. While here, he also delivered a separate course of Lectures on Political Economy, as connected with the Moral Philosophy Chair.

my in Connexion with the Moral State and Moral Prospects of Society." This work displays a mind familiar with the elements of political science, and which has thought deeply on the subject; while, in the course of it, he has to discuss the most complicated and difficult questions in political economy, the whole structure and process of his argument is to prove, that to rear a well-educated, prudent, virtuous and religious people, habituated to moral restraints, is the true-the only way to accomplish the great objects of political economy. But from this brief notice of Dr. Chalmers' writings, we must return to discuss his character as a minister.

"As a preacher, Dr. Chalmers is altogether unrivalled. The sermon he delivered before the King's Commissioner, in the High Church of Edinburgh, in 1816, perhaps first widely established his fame. His discourse on that occasion comprised the essence of his astronomical sermons, and was probably as magnificent a display of eloquence as was ever heard from the pulpit. The effect produced on the audience will not easily be forgotten by any one who had the gratification of being present.

"Dr. Chalmers was, more than once, offered an Edinburgh church; but he had long conceived that his widest sphere of usefulness was a Theological Chair. We often used to dread that his valuable life might pass away before an opportunity occurred of his being transferred to the Scottish metropolis; but, at length, in 1828, on the Divinity Chair in the University of Edinburgh becoming vacant, the Magistrates and Council, much to their honour, with one voice, elected Dr. Chalmers. In doing so, they conferred a boon of inestimable value on our national Chureh, from "From that day crowds followed after him wherever he the ardour, eloquence, and industry he has brought to the went; and, to use his own language, he felt the burden of important charge, and his deep sense of its great responsi- a popularity of stare, and pressure, and animal heat.' bility. Seated in this chair, and with all the ardour of When in London, Canning, Lord Castlereagh, Lord Eldon, his powerful and energetic mind devoted to the rearing of the Duke of Sussex, with several branches of the Royal the future Christian instructors of the land, he may indeed Family, and many others, whom, the journals remarked, be styled one of the nursing fathers of our Church, and the they were not accustomed to elbow at a place of public vast quantum of good that he may thus ultimately accom- worship,' were found anxiously waiting to obtain admisplish, it is impossible to calculate. His first course more sion to hear this modern Massillon. An observation made than realized all that his most zealous friends could expect, by Foster, in one of his powerful and original essays, is and he rendered his lectures deeply interesting and stimu- peculiarly applicable to the talismanic effect of Chalmers lating to the students. At one time, the object of the eloquence; he observes, that real eloquence strikes on young men seemed to be to evade attendance on the Divini- your mind with irresistible force, and leaves you not the ty Lecture, now the difficulty became to get a good place possibility of asking or thinking whether it be eloquence.' to hear their eloquent instructor. In March, 1832, Dr. "Dr. Chalmers is indeed such a preacher as rises up only Chalmers completed, for the first time, one revolution of once in many centuries. Labouring under the disadvanhis theological cycle, consisting of four different courses of tage of a provincial accent and pronunciation, he soon lectures. During the last session, he also delivered, during overcomes these, and the stranger hearing him, is speedily one day of the week, a series of valuable Lectures on the made aware that a man of genius and unrivalled eloquence Importance of Church Establishments. He considers the is before him. Even the language of his ordinary prayers value of the parochial system as beautifully exemplified in betrays him; as for example, when he calls us to rememthe greater attendance on a local than on a general Sab-ber, that every hour that strikes every morning that bath-school, the process which was first established in Glasgow, and is now pretty widely followed throughout England and Ireland. Church establishments he views as founded on the same principle. He considers that each established church throughout the land may be termed a centre of emanation, from which Christianity may, with proper zeal, be made to move, by an aggressive and converting operation, on the wide mass of the people, whilst a a dissenting chapel he views as a centre of attraction only for those who are already religiously disposed. He thinks that the population of our large cities has outgrown the provision of ministers and churches, and that the practice of Household cultivation, on the part of the clergy, has fallen far too much into desuetude.

"It has often been alleged that the clergy show on all occasions the utmost anxiety to increase their income by any Change of place. Dr. Chalmers is one living refutation of ts, he having refused the most wealthy living in the Church of Scotland, the West parish of Greenock, which was proffered him recently by the patron.

"Dr. Chalmers has published several volumes of sermons, all of them of a most useful practical tendency. His Discourses on the Christain Revelation, viewed in conexion with the Modern Astronomy," constitute one of the best splendid productions of his genius, and have had an mense circulation, having gone through eleven editions. Sermons on the Application of Christianity to the Commercial and Ordinary Affairs of Life," ought to be in the hands of every person engaged in the business of the world, being of admirable practical utility. Some of his sermons preached on public occasions, are brilliant exhibias of eloquence and power in pulpit oratory, combined with real usefulness. Dr. Chalmers lately brought out a very interesting and valuable work, "On Political Econo

dawns and every evening that darkens around us,' brings us nearer to the end of our earthly pilgrimage. We know no man whose language in prayer is nearly so impressive, and who so completely lifts the mind from its constant occupation with sublunary things, to the unseen realities of an everlasting world. He, as it were, draws the mind out of its earthliness to purer and holier regions.

"In passages of solemn religious import, as well as those of deepest pathos, we never heard the orator who could approach him; for though we have had the gratification of hearing the celebrated Robert Hall of Leicester, and he can be held up as a perfect model in writing the English language, which Chalmers cannot, the two, as mere pulpit orators, cannot exactly be compared,—each was greatest in his own sphere; but though brothers in genius, they were not so in their style of composition.

"Dr. Chalmers is almost the only pulpit orator we ever heard who could preach upwards of an hour without in the lest fatiguing the attention of his audience.

"The frankness of Dr. Chalmers' eloquence, if we may so designate it, is interesting. He speaks from the heart to the heart. What an ordinary preacher would be afraid to give utterance to, he pours forth with deep and affectionate anxiety to the ears of his audience, and it penetrates to the soul. We can of a truth say of Dr. Chalmers sermons and it is the strongest criterion of a practical preacher-that we never heard one of them-and we hav heard not a few-without having our minds possessed of an anxious desire to become better and holier than before,

ton surpass that of the common herd of poets and philosophers:

Can earth afford

Such genuine state, pre-eminence so free, As when, arrayed in Christ's authority, He from the pulpit lifts his awful hand; Conjures, implores, and labours all he can For re-subjecting to divine command The stubborn spirit of rebellious Man.' "Owing to his academical duties, Dr. Chalmers has not preached very frequently since he came to Edinburgh; but it is hoped when his different courses of lectures are finally composed, he will more frequently appear in the pulpit. It were to be wished that he would allow himself to become, in Edinburgh, what the famous Kirwan was in Dublin, the preacher for our public charities. Kirwan worked wonders with his audience; but how poor and void of stamina are his discourses compared with those of Dr. Chalmers.

We

The great general effect of heat is, that it causes all bodies to which it is applied to expand or increase in size. This law holds, whether the body exists in the solid, fluid, or aëri. form state; but this week we shall confine our attention te the expansion of solids. All bodies do not expand in an equa! degree by equal additions of heat, but in general seem to do so according to their density. Thus, if we apply equal additions of heat to equal bulks of iron, water, and air, the air will expand more than the water, and the water more than the iron. This probably arises from the particles of dense bodies cohering more firmly together, and presenting greater obstacles to their separation by the heat. might easily relate various experiments by which the expansion of solids is proved, but it will probably be better "Dr. Chalmers has some peculiar but enlightened views understood from examples in which the law is taken advantage of by artisans and others. A blacksmith, in fixing regarding public charities. These are to be found developed the iron ring on the wheels of carriages, resorts for assist in some able articles on Pauperism he wrote in the Edinance to the law of expansion. At first he makes it with burgh Review several years ago, in his Christian and Civic its diameter less than that of the wheel, and then causes it Economy of Large Towns, and in his recent work on Poto increase to the proper size by heating it to a red heat litical Economy; which opinions, however, need not pre-in this state it is placed on the wheel, and is instantly cooled vent him advocating the cause of many valuable institutions by dashing cold water upon it; in cooling it contracts to it that exist in Edinburgh, and this he has occasionally done former size, and thus binds the various parts of the wher with great success. so firmly together, that it will run for years without any other fastening. A singular example of the uses to which a knowledge of the Creator's laws may be put, was give a few years ago in Paris, in the case of the law now unde consideration. The walls of a building were observed t bulge out so as to threaten its safety, and it was though necessary to resort to some measures to prevent its destrus tion. The following plan was successfully resorted to: 1: various parts of the side walls holes were made opposite to each other, through which strong iron bars were intre duced, so as to connect the two sides of the building; a on the projecting ends of the bars circular plates of mets were screwed close to the wall. Heat being then applic to the bars, they expanded, and consequently projected far ther through the walls, which allowed the circular plate to be screwed farther in; the bars being allowed to coo they contracted to their former length, and pulled the wall along with them. This was repeated until the walls re gained their proper position.

"There are two points in Dr. Chalmers' character, which seem chiefly worthy of admiration,-the first is the union of the most profound humility, with the highest genius,and the other a deeply affectionate interest in the welfare of the human race. These characterize all his writings and actions both as a public and private individual.

"The distinction between Dr. Chalmers and Dr. Andrew Thomson, two of the most celebrated preachers that the Church of Scotland has ever produced, is, that Chalmers, along with great talents, is also a man of original and inventive genius; while Thomson, though possessed of powerful talents and indefatigable activity of mind, cannot be designated as a man of genius. The question has often been asked, What is genius? but although it is ethereal, the question has been well answered :—

What is genius ? 'tis a flame
Kindling all the human frame;
"Tis a ray that lights the eye,
Soft in love, in battle high.
"Tis the lightning of the mind,
Unsubdued and undefined;
'Tis the flood that pours along
The full clear melody of song;
'Tis the sacred boon of Heaven,
To its choicest favourites given.
They who feel can paint it well.

What is genius? Chalmers, tell!'

The expansion of bodies, from the application of heas produces effects, in some cases, necessary to be guarde against. It is a source of considerable inconvenience to clock makers. The movements of a clock depending upo the pendulum, whatever disturbs the regularity of its m tion, must derange the whole machinery; and as the num ber of vibrations of the pendulum in a given time depend on its length, the longer it is vibrating the more slowly "There was great truth in the remark made by the pre--the clock is found to go slower in warm than in co Bent Lord Advocate Jeffrey-and there could not be a bet-weather, from the heat causing the pendulum to expand ter judge of eloquence-when he first heard Dr. Chalmers, Various contrivances have been made, however, to remed on the occasion of a splendid speech against pluralities, the evil. One remedy, lately attempted, is to make pen delivered by him in the General Assembly; that he could dulums of pavement stone taken from Sir John Sinclair not say what it was, but there was something altogether quarry. The stones may be distinguished in several street remarkabie about that man; that the effects produced by of the new town of Edinburgh, being dry when the comm his eloquence, reminded him more of what he had read of pavement is damp, especially after frost. It is their clo Cicero and Demosthenes than any thing he had ever grain, apparently, that makes them expand very little by hea and contract little by cold, and which thereby fits them f pendulums. We all know how dangerous it is to heat gla too suddenly. Heat, as we shall afterwards see, is diffuse through some substances with much greater rapidity tha through others. It is slowly diffused through glass, an when we pour hot water into a glass vessel, as a tumble the particles of glass contiguous to the water are immed ately heated, and consequently they expand; but, as gla conducts heat slowly from one part to another, it is som time till the heat is transmitted to the particles which con pose the glass on the outside of the tumbler; they do n therefore expand for some time, and offering a resistance: the expansion of the inner particles, a crack is the cons quence. It might be expected from this, that a tumbl made of thin glass would stand sudden alterations of ten

heard,"

SCIENTIFIC NOTICES.

HEAT.

IN No. XI. we intimated to our readers that it is our intention occasionally to devote a column of the Schoolmaster to investigation in science, and we shall now, with that view, proceed to explain a few of the properties of Heat. The nature or cause of heat, the most extensively diffused and most active agent in nature, is entirely unknown, and likely to remain so; but with many of its properties we are intimately acquainted, and to these only shall we direct the attention of our readers