he was thrown into a French prison. He never forgot the sufferings he endured; and from the time he was set free he was unceasing in his efforts to remedy the abuses which existed. He travelled over all Great Britain and Ireland, and great part of the continent, visiting prisons wherever he went, and by his representations many useful reforms were effected.

A reform also took place in the state of the criminal law. During the last century a trifling theft was often punished by death. Early in the present century great efforts were made to lessen the severity of the law. In this great cause Sir Samuel Romilly laboured not without success, and his efforts were followed by those of others. The punishment of death is not now inflicted for any crime except murder.

The attention of mankind was first awakened to the horrors of the slave trade by Thomas Clarkson. His labours prepared the way for Mr Wilberforce, who brought the subject before Parliament in 1788. He persevered year after year in exposing the wickedness and horrors of this infamous traffic. In 1807the slave trade was abolished by the British Government. Slavery itself continued to exist in the British colonies for many years longer.

The origin of savings banks has been attributed to the Rev. Joseph Smith of Wendover, in Buckinghamshire, who established something of the kind for his parishioners in 1799. His example was followed by others, and previous to the year 1817 there were 70 savings banks established in England, four in Wales, and four in Ireland. In the same year

legislative provisions were first made for the management of these institutions. Acts for the further regulation of them have been since passed from time to time.

SUMMARY.-Vaccination was first successfully tried by Dr Jenner in 1796. The first Turnpike Act was passed in 1653. The system of mail coaches was introduced in 1784 by Mr Palmer. The origin of English canals dates from the year 1755. The first canal constructed was near the river Mersey. Wearing by machinery was invented in 1785. The steam-engine was much improved by James Watt, so as to make it useful for various practical purposes. Boulton and Watt were the first to apply steam-power to the manufacture of cotton goods. In 1812 the first public steam vessel began to ply on the Clyde. Useful reforms in prisons were effected by the exertions of John Howard. The cuninal law was altered, so that the punishment of death was no longer inflicted for theft. Gas was first used for lighting the streets in London in 1807. The slave trade was abolished by the British Parliament in 1807. The first Act for regulating savings banks was passed in 1817.

QUESTIONS.

When was vaccination first successfully tried? What is a turnpike? A gate set across a road to stop carriages, horses, etc., till toll is paid for keeping the road in repair. A turnpike road is a road on which there is a toll. When was the first Turnpike Act passed? When was the system of mail coaches introduced? Where was the first English canal constructed; and when? Who invented the spinning machine; and by whom was it improved? By whom was the steam-engine improved and made much more useful than it had been before? When did the first public steam vessel begin to ply on the Clyde? When was gas first used for lighting the streets in London? When was the slave trade abolished?

Hanah F. Gould was born at Lancaster, Vermont, in the United States. Her poems were first published in various periodicals, and were collected in a volume in 1832. Subsequent volumes appeared in 1835 and 1841. In 1846 she published a prose volume, entitled "Gathered Leaves;" and in 1850 poems for the young, entitled "The Youth's Coronal."

The shoemaker sat among wax and leather,
With the lapstone on his knee,

Where, snug in his shop, he defied all weather,
Drawing his quarters and sole together;
A happy old man was he.

The happy old man was so wise and knowing,
The worth of his time he knew ;

He bristled his ends, and he kept them going,
And felt to each moment a stitch was owing,
Until he got round the shoe.

Of every deed that his wax was sealing,

The closing was firm and fast;

The prick of his awl never caused a feeling
Of pain to the toe; and his skill in heeling
Was perfect, and true to the last.

Whenever you gave him a boot to measure,
With gentle and skilful hand

He took its proportions with looks of pleasure,
As if you were giving the costliest treasure,
Or dubbing him lord of the land.

And many a one did he save from getting
A fever, or cold, or cough;

For many a foot did he save from wetting,
When, whether in water or snow 'twas setting,
His shoeing would keep them off.

When he had done with his making and mending,
With hope and peaceful breast,

Resigning his awl, as his thread was ending,
He passed from his bench, to the grave descending,
As high as the king, to rest.

. GENERAL PRINCIPLES.-The animal kingdom is subject to laws of distribution somewhat similar to those which regulate the vegetable; but the colder regions are not so rigidly limited to productions of the lowest class. The warmest climates display the greatest number and variety of species, some of which are distinguished for size, strength, and ferocity. The colder zones exhibit more sameness in the species, but

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