it was red-hot liquid metal. One man, with brawny arms, bare up to the shoulders, and a face shining with perspiration, was carrying this fiery liquid in a large ladle. Another poured it out into moulds of saud. Some men, with white caps on their heads, and pale, fire-lighted visages, were hurrying to and fro, carrying, in long-handled tongs, masses of redhot metal. Others, seen in the forge at a distance, were dragging out red-hot bars, while two were standing, with huge hammers raised, waiting the moment to give their alternate blows. In this place it seemed in vain for human creatures to attempt to make use of their voices. Here wind and fire, the hammer, the bellows, the machinery, seemed to engross the privilege of being heard. The men went on with their business in silence, only making signs when they wanted you to stand out of the way. While they were seeing the foundery, they were met by Mr Watson, the master of the works, to whom Harry's father had a letter of introduction. Mr Watson took Harry and his father to see his colliery. They were one by one to be let down in a bucket into the shaft of the coal mine, which was like a deep well. Mr Watson, turning his eyes upon Harry, asked his father if the boy would be afraid to go down. Harry, colouring highly, answered for himself, "No, sir, I am not afraid to go wherever my father goes." His father went down first, with one of the colliers in the bucket. It was let down by the rope from a steam-engine. In a few seconds Harry lost sight of him, and soon the bucket reappeared with only the collier in it. "Now, you may go down or not, just as you will," said Mr Watson. "I will go down," said Harry. "Then do not be in a hurry. Let me put you into the bucket." He took him by the arm, and lifted him in, and the collier bid him be quite still, and he was so. The bucket was let down, and it grew darker and darker as they descended, till at last he could see only a little speck at the opening at top, like a star of light. He could but just distinguish the man's hand and arm, like a shadow, as he pushed against the sides of the shaft to keep the bucket from striking. They landed safely at the bottom, where there was lamplight, and Harry sprang out of the bucket, with the assistance of his father's hand; and he was very glad that he had had the courage to go down. As soon as Mr Watson had descended and joined them, he took them through the galleries and passages of the coal mines, and showed Harry where and how the men were at work. Harry was surprised to see the numbers of workmen and of carriages that were conveying the coal. And here he had the pleasure of seeing what he had long wished for--the manner in which a steam-engine was employed in pumping out the water that collects in a mine. Before steam-engines had been brought into general use, the master told him that it was the labour of years to do what is now perhaps done in a few days. His father stopped to look at a kind of lamp, which has been used for some time in lighting mines, and which, from its peculiar construction, is called the safety lamp, as it completely prevents the fatal accidents that formerly occurred from the explosion of inflammable vapours, when ignited by the unprotected flame of a candle. Harry wished to understand it, but his father told him he would explain it to him at another opportunity; that they must not delay now, for Mr Watson's time was precious; which Mr Watson did not deny. However, he did not hurry them; he only spoke shortly, passed on quickly, and called to the man at the windlass to "let down." They were drawn up in the same manner by which they had descended, and Harry was glad to see the daylight again, though it dazzled him, and to feel the fresh air. SUMMARY.-When Harry and Lucy visited the fiery moor by daylight, they saw a black, dreary waste, with smouldering fires, heaps of dross, coal, and cinders. The atmosphere was laden with the smell of coal and smoke. Everything was blackened. There were numerous steam-engines, blowing the bellows of the furnaces or raising water from the mines. They went into a large building, and saw men carrying the red-hot liquid metal from the furnace and pouring it into moulds of sand. Then Harry and his father went down in a bucket into a coal mine, and saw the miners at work. The mine was so dark that they were quite dazzled when they were drawn up again into the daylight. QUESTIONS. What is the atmosphere? the earth on every side, and Air, a thin fluid which surrounds goes with it throughout both its daily and annual revolutions. How is iron cast? It is melted in a furnace and poured into moulds of sand. Cast-iron is not pure iron. When it is deprived of its impurities it becomes malleable or bar iron. What is malleable iron? Iron that can be forged and hammered. What is a safety lamp? It is a lamp invented by Sir Humphrey Davy, which may be used without danger in coal mines. It is a kind of lantern covered with fine wire gauze instead of glass or horn, which prevents the flame of the lamp touching the gas of the mine. What do you mean by the gas of the mine? In most coal mines enormous quantities of a kind of gas are produced from the coal. This is commonly called fire-damp, or inflammable air. This, mingled with the air of the mines, forms an explosive mixture; and when it is brought in contact with the flame of a lamp, ignition takes place, accompanied with the most fearful consequences. THE HOUSE OF HANOVER (3). GEORGE III.-1760-1820.-(continued). Hostilities, Lat., captura, capture, from Fr., merveilleux, wonderful, MEANING. Power, whether bodily or mental. Power asserted vigorously. Not scrupulous, not care ful to avoid doing wrong. Those who enter the terri- Wonderful, strange. Lat., hostilitas, hostility, Attacks of an enemy. 13. During the misfortunes and losses experienced in the western dominions of Great Britain, it was chiefly owing to the ability and energy of Warren Hastings, governor of India, that the British empire had been maintained and strengthened in the East. But his conduct had often been altogether unscrupulous; and many actions of cruelty and treachery were laid to his charge. In 1788 he was tried before the House of Lords; and the trial, which lasted at intervals until 1795, excited intense interest. It ended in his acquittal. 14. The public interest in India and its governor had, however, flagged long before the trial concluded. After a few years of tranquillity, confusion and war had come again. The great French Revolution began in 1789, by the uprising against the monarchy of a people long downtrodden and oppressed beyond endurance. It ended in the fearful vengeance taken for those wrongs— the executions of king, queen, nobles, priests, guilty and innocent together. At last the leaders of the Revolution themselves became odious, and they also perished by the executioner's hand. The monarchies of Europe in terror had armed against France. After the execution of the French king, the French ambassador was dismissed from London. In February 1793, France declared war against Great Britain. But the French drove back all invaders, and took possession of Holland and Belgium. William Pitt, son of Lord Chatham, had gained the royal favour, and become prime minister in 1783, at the age of 24. His genius and energy terrible years that fol were severely taxed in the lowed the declaration of war in 1793. The supre macy of England on the seas ensured her safety, and |