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exclaimed together; and, spitting upon the image, they of sacred fire; and, walking to where Dorothea stood threw it upon the ground.

bound, he knelt down and kissed her hand-no longer All stood amazed at this act, so daring - so unex. with the feeling of earthly love, but with the reverence pected. Theophilus was horror-struck, and for a mo- of a pilgrim to a saint. By the governor's command ment unable to speak; but Harpax, who stood by his he is pulled away from her: Dorothea's head is placed side, recalled him to himself by reminding him that upon the block and struck off with the sword. “O take now it was necessary he should act with promptitude my soul along to wait on thine,” cried Antoninus-and and decision ; that his daughters' impious act, unless at with the words sunk dead by her side. once atoned for, must be punished with death; and that Theophilus was sitting alone in his study, reflecting the sacrifice would be more impressive, more effectual upon the success which had attended his efforts to put as an example, and more honouring to the gods, if | down Christianity, when suddenly a youth, in form and offered by his own hands. Stung by the exhortations appearance resembling the page who had attended upon of Harpax, Theophilus turned to his daughters, and the martyred Dorothea, entered his room, and presented commanded them immediately to redeem the fearful him with a basket full of fruit and flowers, telling him crime they had committed, by falling on their knees, that Dorothea sent him these from the garden in which and suing for pardon of the offended deity. With firm she now dwelt, and then vanished. Full of amazement, composure they refused. Maddened by the recollection he called his attendants, and inquired how the boy had of the confidence with which he had counted upon their gained admittance; but none of them had seen him success in converting Dorothea, to whose superior power enter, and the doors had all been locked. The scent of of persuasion they had themselves yielded, he sprung the flowers was more exquisite than anything he had upon them, and drawing his dagger, laid them dead at ever before felt; and, as he inhaled it, filled him with a his feet. Dorothea was burried away to immediate peaceful serenity such as his soul had long been a stranger torment.

to. He then began to taste the fruit, when Harpax Dorothea endured her torments with heroic constancy, rushed into the room, not now in the humble guise of and at last, when the ingenuity of her tormentors was secretary, but in his true and fearful shape, a fiend, with exhausted, she was led out to execution. Antoninus, fire all flashing around him, and commanded him to who still continued in a deplorable condition, would not forbear; telling that he was now his slave, and must be restrained from being present to look for the last obey him. Theophilus, though sorely frightened, contime upon her who was so dear to him. With sweet tinued still to eat, and, as he ate, found his strength and serenity she addressed her murderers, telling them of courage increase. The fiend threatened to tear him in the bright abode to which they were hastening her, and pieces unless he desisted, but, as Theophilus perceived, of the heavenly fruits which grew there. Theophilus durst not approach to where the basket of flowers lay. in derision begged that, when she reached the place she while they were thus contending, Theophilus, thrusting spoke of, she should send him some of that fruit, while his hand to the bottom of the basket, took out thence Antoninus, in the anguish of his heart, implored that a bundle of flowers wreathed together in the form of a he might be permitted to die with her. While they were At sight of this the fiend fell to the ground, speaking, Angelo entered ; no longer a boyish page, but howling with agony. Theophilus still held it up before in his true form, a bright and glorious angel. He was him, until at last, unable to endure the sight any longer, .visible only to Harpax and Dorothea ; to Harpax, who he vanished away. was no man, but an evil spirit, and who was smitten Theophilus now became as zealous a Christian as he with the torments of hell at the sight, and rushed dis- had been a cruel persecutor. He sent and released from tractedly from his presence; and to Dorothea, who looked prison all who had been imprisoned by his orders, furwith amazement on the change in the appearance of nishing them with means to make their escape from

Cæsarea. He did not himself long escape the fate which * Thou glorious minister of the power I serve !"

he had before inflicted on so many others. After suffer

ing unheard-of torments, he received the glorious crown She thus addressed him,

of martyrdom. * (For thou art more than mortal,) is't for me,

Artemia consoled herself for the loss of Antoninus by Poor sinner, thou art pleased awhile to leave

bestowing her hand upon her father's colleague, MaxiThy heavenly habitation, and vouchsafest,

minus ; and Dioclesian, full of rage at the defection of Though glorified, to take my servant's habit?

his officer, issued orders for a simultaneous persecution For, put off thy divinity, so look'd

of the Church throughout every corner of the empire. My lovely Angelo." “Know," replied the angel, “ I am the same;

I must repeat to you an opinion I have long held, And still the servant to your piety.

that no man had ever more than one conception. Milton Your zealous prayers and pious deeds first won me

emptied his mind in the first part of Paradise Lost; (But 'twas by His command to whom you sent them) all the rest is transcript of self. The Odyssey is a repe To guide your steps. I tried your charity,

tition of the Wiad. When you have seen one Claude, When in a beggar's shape you took me up,

you have seen all. I can think of no exception but And clothed my naked limbs, and after fed, As you believ'd, my famish'd mouth. Learn all,

Shakspeare ; he is always varied, never mannered.

Archdeacon Fisher.
By your example, to look on the poor
With gentle eyes! for in such habuits, often
Angels desire an alms. I never left you,

N.B. The Second Volume of this Periodical is now ready; corers Nor will I now ; for I am sent to carry

for binding, with Table of Contents, may be ordered of any Book

seller. Your pure and innocent soul to joys eternal, Your martyrdom once suffered."

CONTENTS.
He then told her that whatever she now asked would
be granted. With many thanks, she preferred two

Student Life in Germany | Popular Year-Book......
-The Jobsiad....

Railway, requests. One, that the love of Antoninus for her, in

Black Fritz (concluded)

(concluded)

75 which he languished to death, might be changed to the The Ascent of the Jungfrau, Stories from the Dramatists: lové of heaven; the other, that when she reached her one of the Bernese Alps, the Virgin Martyr (with heavenly home, she might be permitted to send to

(concluded)....................

Illustration).. Theophilus some of that sacred fruit which he had jeeringly demanded. Angelo promised that both requests

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PRINTED by RICHARD Cuar, of Park Terrace, Highbury, in the Parish of should be granted. Suddenly Antoninus feels himself in the Parish of St. Nicholas Olave, in the City of London, and published restored to strength; his whole soul is filled with a glow

SL. Sepulchre, in the City of London.-- Saturday, November 2, 1846.

St. Mary, Islioxton, at his Printing Office, Nos. 7 and 8, Bread Street Hill,

by THOMAS BOWDEN SHARPE, of No. 15, Skinner Street, in the Parish of

It

London Magazine:

A JOURNAL OF ENTERTAINMENT AND INSTRUCTION

FOR GENERAL READING.

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A SCOTTISH SCENE.-(See Illustration.) “As they neared the land, the hills appeared to recede from them, and a little valley, formed by the descent of a small river from the mountains, evolved itself, as it were, upon their approach. The style of the country on each side was simply pastoral, and resembled in appearance and character the description of a forgotten Scottish poet, which runs nearly thus:

* The water gently down a level slid
With little din, but couthy what it made;
On ilka side the trees grew thick and lang,
And wi' the wild-birds' notes were a' in sang;
On either side, a full bow-shot and mair,
The green was even, gowany, and fair ;
With easy slope on every hand the braes,
To the hill's fect, with scatter'd bushes raise;
With goats and sheep aboon, and kye below,
The bonny banks all in a swarm did go.'”—Sir Walter Scott.

THE ATMOSPHERE. In how many shapes does atmospheric influence Thus it will be seen, that both by weight and bull, present itself! In the brightness of a summer's the principal elements of the atmosphere are nitromorning we feel refreshed and delighted by the gen and oxygen gas, the vapour and carbonic acid invigorating buoyancy of the air, and listen to the gas forming only aboutone and seven-fifths of a cubic pleasant sound of the merry breeze, as it stirs the inch in 100 inches. It will be seen that the gases forest leaves, or ripples tħe surface of the lake. destructive to life are far more abundant than the The countless forms of life around us, -feathered vital gas; but the commingling of all produces a and insect tribes making the air their home, wholesome fluid. As we stated in the article on animals upon and in the earth, and the uncounted Water, oxygen gas is without taste, colour, or smell

, tenants of ocean,—all depend for existence on the and so is the atmosphere. Nitrogen possesses the agency of the atmosphere. The vegetable king- same properties, though differing in other respects. doms, also, own their dependence on this mighty Carbonic acid gas is found in mines, where it causes agent, which, covering all regions of the earth, is the choke-damp; vast quantities are also locked felt in every land, and by all orders of being. Let up in limestone, a cubic yard of which has been calus then consider some of the most interesting cir- culated to contain 16,000 cubic feet of this gas, which cumstances connected with the atmosphere. some suppose to have formerly existed in immense

It is principally composed of two gases, oxygen quantities in the ancient atmosphere of the earth. and nitrogen; but, as two other elements, carbonic were the air wholly composed of oxygen, animal acid gas and vapour, enter into its composition, we life would be hastened in all its movements, and, shall consider it to consist of these four substances. probably, speedily exhausted; whilst an atmosphere The chief gas is nitrogen, as, in 100 parts of the of nitrogen, or carbonic acid, though favourable to atmosphere, nearly eighty consist of this element, some forms of vegetable and animal life, would which is sometimes called azote, a term indicating have rendered the earth unfit for man and terresits life-destroying properties. Four-fifths of that trial beings. air, without which we must all perish, is therefore The mingling of the different gases in the ata most pernicious element. Thus vital and deadly mosphere is a matter calling for our attention and gases are so beautifully mingled as to produce that admiration. Were each permitted to arrange itself life-sustaining fluid which every where girdles the according to weight, we should have an atmosphere earth, and invests it with countless forms of love-composed of three distinct strata, the lowest being liness. Carbonic acid gas is also destructive to carbonic acid gas, the next oxygen, and the third life; but this and the nitrogen are so adjusted to and nitrogen gas. This is the arrangement we should worked up with the oxygen, that we gladly breathe have expected the fluids to take by the natural laws the pure compound, and require it more constantly of gravity. In such a disposition, the earth would than any other nourishing agent. Before pro- have been a silent expanse; vast forests might ceeding further, we must give the proportions in have covered its surface; but no sound of life which these four substances exist in atmospheric air. would have arisen from vale or mountain. But

If we take 100 cubic inches of air, and analyze this tendency to accumulate in strata, according to the mass, we shall find it to consist of the follow the weights, has been checked by another law, ing proportions :

by which these various gases are so mingled to77-5 or 77) inches.

gether, that the carbonic acid, which would na

turally have fallen to the surface of the earth, is Vapour

diffused through the whole atmospheric mass, and 11

does not compose more than the footh part of the

air. This tendency to diffusion is of vast importThese are the proportions nearly, by measure or bulk; but if 100 grains of air be taken, the following wi

ance in our towns and dwellings. Take a factory, table then exhibits the respective elements:

500 men working there for eight hours; in that

time 6,000,000 inches of carbonic acid is given off Nitrogen gas 75.55 or 754 grains nearly. by respiration; were that product to accumulate, Oxygen gas

23. grains.

day after day, in our streets, depopulated cities to of a grain.

would soon bear witness to its destructive qualiVapour

ties. The tendency of the gases to mingle prevents

grain.

Nitrogen gas
Oxygen gas

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Carbonic acid gas

of an inch.

Carbonic acid

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these results. The gaseous proportions given above | lines through space_and that the reflecting vaare nearly the same in every part of the globe,-a pours are forty-five miles above the surface of the fact illustrated by the experiments of the most globe; we naturally infer the existence of a supeminent scientific chemists, who have analyzed the porting fluid, where those vapours float, and thereatmosphere in different climates, with the same fore conclude that our atmosphere extends to such general result. Some, however, have supposed an elevation. Some give to the air an altitude of that oxygen is more permanently abundant in some fifty miles; but nothing like exactitude can be explaces ; an opinion which has not been confirmed pected in calculations respecting a fluid, the density by experiment. But it may be said, that, if the of which is exceedingly rare at great heights. atmosphere is every where composed of the same Meteors have been observed sixty or a hundred proportion of its gases, it ought to be equally healthy miles above the earth; but it does not follow that in all places, and the air of Sierra Leone as bracing such bodies must always take fire in the atmoas that of Devonshire. It must be remembered, how- sphere,—they may be exterior to it; no conclusion ever, that many circumstances combine to prevent, in can therefore be formed respecting its extent from some regions, the natural diffusion of the gases, or these phenomena. When, however, we represent retard their mixture, from which it follows that the atmosphere as having an elevation of forty or some disturbances must happen in the animal fifty miles, it is not intended to assert that it economy. Thus, in a hot and thickly-wooded maintains the same properties throughout the country, the free circulation of the air currents whole range; this is far from being the case. The will be prevented, the atmospheric tide will not, so density, for instance, must diminish with every to speak, ebb and flow with due regularity, and a mile of elevation, until at last a state of the greatest deleterious gas, such as carbonic acid, will take a rarefaction is produced. Thus, at very slight heights, longer time to diffuse itself, and is in the mean time the air is too thin to admit of free respiration, and breathed by animals. But, in all such cases, the the discharge of a gun is scarcely heard, from the natural tendency is to mingle in the proportions given slight resistance offered to the exploded gas. If above; such, therefore, may be considered the pro- we ascend to the summits of the Andes or the per elements of the atmosphere. Every one knows Alps, and discharge a gun on the top of Chimbothat the quantity of vapour entering into the air razo or Mont Blanc, the report is scarcely equal must rary at different times, being much greater in to that of a child's pop-gun, --so small is the rehot than in cold weather, the difference being assistance of the air at such heights. At an elevation to išo; but there is, nevertheless, an average quan- of three and a half miles, the density of the air is tity of such vapour mingled with the atmospheric one-half that upon the surface, a fact which can gases, which is the proportion expressed in the easily be tested, as aëronauts have attained to such tables. A similar remark applies to carbonic acid heights; at fourteen miles it is reckoned at onegas, the amount of which in the air is not always sixteenth. the same, being greater in dry seasons, but the Were the density preserved the same through moistened soil and saturated vegetation of a wet the whole height of the atmosphere, the pressure summer imbibe it largely from the air.

would far exceed that which now weighs down Was the atmosphere always supposed to be a com- with a force of fifteen pounds every square inch pound fluid ? No; men had breathed it for thousands of the globe. This would occasion a corresponding of years without suspectingits compound character. change in our bodies, the temperature of our Nor was it likely the viewless air should be deemed climates, the growth of vegetables, and in the a complex fluid, when water, a more tangible and whole organized world. We should be bowea evident substance, was so long deemed simple. down by an ever-crushing weight; no flower

Until the year 1774, men were ignorant of the would raise its delicate head above the ground, constituents of the atmosphere; but Priestley then whilst every gale must become a furious and obtained a glimpse of the truth in perceiving that destructive tempest. On the other hand, were the oxygen entered into its composition; whilst Scheele, atmosphere at the same density from top to bottom Lavoisier, Berthollet, Cavendish, and a host of en- as at the height of seven miles, we should not be thusiastic students of Nature, soon gave to the world able to exist ; the blood must become corrupted; a true interpretation of many beautiful laws re- no refreshing breezes ever felt; and, in all probalating to the atmosphere. Into the history of these bility, a perpetual winter would rule over the earth. discoveries we cannot enter, nor wander into the all these consequences are prevented by the rich and wide regions which on every side present present adjustment of the atmosphere, by which their pure beauty to the eye, but confine our ob- the parts nearest the earth are of the density servations to the facts presented to our view in the requisite for the support of animal and vegetable atmosphere itself.

life, and the portions above so gradually attenuated The height of this world-belt cannot, of course, as to keep the whole atmospherical machine in be ascertained by actual and close observation, perfect order. This attenuation of the air has no the loftiest summits of the Andes do but pierce assignable limits, but continues to increase the through the first stratum of air; nor has any higher we go. It has been calculated that a aeronaut ever penetrated to its remoter depths. cubic inch of our air, taken from any part of the We are, nevertheless, able to make a tolerable earth's surface, would become so expanded at the guess at the depth of this gaseous sea which sur-height of five hundred miles, as to fill a space equal rounds us, and forty-five miles is usually regarded to the whole bulk of the planet Saturn. Thus the atmoas the height to which our atmosphere extends. sphere may be described as a series of numerous One means by which we arrive at this calculation air-strata, diminishing in density as they ascend. is, the reflection of light. The process may thus It is, perhaps, needless to remark, that the be described : suppose we observe a certain portion higher we rise the less is the pressure of the atof light from the sun arrested by vapours, and mosphere upon us, as may be proved by the reflected to the earth, instead of passing in straight gradual fall of the barometer while ascending a

mountain. Let us suppose ourselves at the foot to occupy the whole space, but its effects are tben of some lofty hill; we observe the barometer, and so trifling as to be inappreciable. perhaps find the column of mercury standing at Air is not only capable of such extreme rarethirty inches high; we begin the ascent, and, faction, that no instruments can detect its presence, having gained an elevation of some hundred yards, but will take a liquid form. To accomplish this again observe the instrument; the quicksilver resultit must be subjected to vast artificial pressure, has fallen. We again proceed; the fluid still con- amounting to 30,000 lbs. on every square inch. tinues to fall the higher we rise. This results This state of condensation is, however, wholly artifrom the diminishing pressure of each more ele- ficial, and never exhibited in any natural operation, vated stratum of air upon the mercury in the thegreatest pressure being that which we feel on the bowl of the barometer; the metal therefore falls surface of the earth. Liquefaction of the atmoin the tube and rises in the bowl. If we descend, sphere cannot therefore be a natural result. the increasing aërial pressure forces the fluid from The peculiar conformation of the atmosphere the receptacle into the tube again. The uses of has a strong influence upon the laws of vision, and this atmospherical pressure are various: it pre- the phenomena of light. When we walk abroad vents the water of seas and rivers from being too in the early beauty of a summer's morning, we see rapidly evaporated by heat, which would cause an a thousand objects from the hill top, which we undue saturation of the air, and the production of have climbed for the sake of the prospect, and a a perpetual rain.

softly-diffused light invites the eye to scan plains, It also enables us to heat water to a much hills, forests, rivers, and the distant sea, with its higher degree than we otherwise could, as it now playfully agitated waters. The atmosphere is fitted preserves the fluid form until heated to 212° of to receive light; there is, therefore, a peculiar reFahrenheit's thermometer. Were the pressure of lation, a species of brotherhood, between the air the atmosphere much less, water could not be and light, by which they act in concert, one adaptraised to such a temperature, but must be turned ing itself to the other. Suppose the atmosphere into steam before fitted for many of its present were so constituted as to resist light, to prevent its purposes, in the preparation of food, and manu- reflection, or refraction, or to separate it into its facturing operations.

different colours, how altered would be the aspect The common pump depends upon this atmo- of all things! A bright overpowering glare, a spherical pressure. When a child sees water issu- dazzling kaleidoscopical earth, with a sharp and ing from the spout of a pump, he imagines that the painful light, would be our lot, instead of the beauwater is raised by the action of the handle, drawing ties which now gladden the eye and exalt the taste. up the contents of the well: and such may be the What a powerful agent is the atmosphere in the notion of many very old men too. In fact the production of sounds! without it the globe might water is not drawn up at all: the air is pumped abound with living myriads; but silence, the sign out of the pipe, and the water rushes in to take of death, would be the law of all existence in the place of this fluid. Why does the water rush earth and air. Those numberless sounds from the up the empty pipe? It is forced upwards by the world of rejoicing insects, the fine and touching pressure of the air in the well on its surface, and harmonies of birds, the solemn echoes of woodland rises to the height of about thirty-four feet, above voices, and the deep tones of the water-fall, would which the common pump will not raise water. Thus be unknown. What a singular change in our the construction of this domestic machine de mode of life, the matter of our thoughts, and the pends upon the universal and unchanging laws nature of language, does this suggest! Thus we which rule the atmosphere.

see how closely our present mode of being is This effect of aërial pressure was long ascribed linked to certain particular arrangements of two or to a peculiar property supposed to belong to all three invisible gases, and how fluid matter is matter, and which was called nature's dread of a made the medium of intercourse with our fellow

When, it was said, air is withdrawn from creatures, and with the most impressive forms of the pump-tube, the surrounding water rushes in natural beauty. How various are the results thus to fill the vacancy, because nature abhors empti- produced from one agent ! life supported, vegeta

We should say, because it is forced up by tion upheld, rivers and seas kept in their channels, the pressure of the superincumbent atmosphere; light and sound made vehicles of delight and inand we are right. Let us not, however, fall into terest; all by the duly-adjusted workings of a fluid the silly habit of ridiculing the men of olden times which attracts not the notice of one-tenth of those for their ignorance in these matters; they gave living in the very sight of its wondrous agency, the best explanations in their power of the phe- and beneath the most direct manifestations of its nomena around them, and we can do no more; sublime power. but our opportunities for observing Nature work- This atmosphere is not a quiescent mass of ing in her secret places, and dealing with her stratified air, but active as the ocean, and perpetustrange mysteries, are superior to theirs; let us ally excited by numberless currents blowing in rejoice for ourselves, but forbear from insulting every direction, and at all elevations. Every those who gazed from a valley at the objects which peasant, though bookless and unlearned-every we calmly survey from high mountain summits. school-boy, though regarding the rule of three as The atmosphere may be reduced by means of the the limit of science, has a knowledge of those air-pump to any degree of rarefaction, even to movements, which, in breeze, storm, or hurricane, three hundred times less than its usual density. roll their aerial waves through the lower regions This is not surprising, since if a cubic foot of air of the air. But vast tidal streams—the Mississippis be in a vessel, and the air pump applied, 299 parts of the atmosphere—are perpetually flowing in the may be pumped out; when the 1-300th part will higher regions; some sweeping from the equator still attempt to fill the vessel. However small towards the poles, others heaving their invisible the quantity left in the receiver, it will attempt billows towards earth's central line. Besides these

vacuum.

ness.

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