THE "GREAT BRITAIN" STEAM SHIP.

MEN, in a state of barbarism, that is, running wild and untaught, as some nations in Africa are at this time, did as well as they could when they came to rivers or waters. Wide and deep rivers would present an insurmountable barrier to them if unable to swim, and on the wide sea they never thought of venturing, but stood and gazed on the world of waters spread out before them with wonder and fear. To get over a river they might sometimes creep along the branches of a tree that had fallen across it, or commit themselves to the support and guidance of a tree floating down it. And this might suggest the idea of a float. Rude attempts were then made to form a boat of the bark or trunks of trees. Others, like the Esquimaux, made them of the skins and bones of animals. In course of time larger boats were constructed, and afterwards ships with sails.

But all this time little was known of the great world of land and water. The ،، great sea" of scripture, now called the Mediterranean, or middle sea, was the principal scene of navigation. The discovery of the magnet, or seaman's compass, was a wonderful event in the history of navigation. Hitherto, as on Paul's voyage, (xxvii. Acts,) seamen had been guided by the stars, but when these were clouded they had no certain guide on a dark night, when out of sight of land. The magnet was so contrived, that, by night or day, it indicated the course they were steering.

"Long lay the ocean-paths from man conceal'd;

Light came from heaven,-the magnet was revealed.
A surer star to guide the seaman's eye

Than the pale glory of the northern sky;

Alike ordained to shine by night and day,

Through calm and tempest, with unsetting ray;
Where'er the mountains rise, the billows roll,

Still with strong impulse turning to the pole,
True as the sun is to the morning true,
Though light as film, and trembling as the dew."

Guided by the mariner's compass, Columbus ventured out on the vast Atlantic ocean to seek for a new world, and he found one.

"The winds were prosperous, and the billows bore
The brave adventurer to the promised shore;
Far in the west, array'd in purple light,
Dawn'd the new world on his enraptur'd sight:
Not Adam, loosen'd from the encumbering earth,
Waked by the breath of God to instant birth,
With sweeter, wilder wonder gazed around,
When life within, and light without he found;
When, all creation rushing o'er his soul,

He seem'd to live and breathe throughout the whole.
So felt Columbus, when, divinely fair,

At the last look of resolute despair,

The Hesperian isles, from distance dimly blue,
With gradual beauty open'd on his view.
In that proud moment, his transported mind
The morning and the evening worlds combin'd,
And made the sea, that sunder'd them before,
A bond of peace, uniting shore to shore."

Thus the vast continents of North and South America, and the beautiful islands scattered about between them, were discovered. But sad things were done by wicked and rapacious men from Spain in killing and robbing the peaceable and unoffending natives. Some time afterwards, when religious persecution prevailed in this country, many families of pious persons took vessels and went out to seek an asylum from its rage amid the forests of North America. These have been called the "Pilgrim Fathers." They settled, and built houses, and schools, and places of worship. Others followed, and then more and more, ́until they multiplied and grew into a great nation, now called the "United States of America."

Of late years there has been great intercourse carried on between England and America, and it is likely there will be more. Fine well-built ships called "liners," with masts and sails, have passed to and fro at stated periods. These were intended for passengers, chiefly, and were usually three weeks or a month performing the voyage out or in.

A few years ago it was proposed to try whether it would not be possible to use steam vessels for this purpose. Many thought this could not be done on account of the great distance, and we remember reading a long paper, by a very clever man, to prove it could not. However, there is no restraining the skill and enterprize of men. The attempt was made, and it succeeded.

Several large steam vessels were now erected, adapted to the enterprize; some of which were built in America and some in England. We notice two

"The President" was an American vessel. She performed several voyages well. At length she left America for England and was never seen or heard of again. It is supposed she went down in a stormvessel, crew, and passengers altogether! Among the passengers were several persons of note-a young British nobleman, and a beloved friend of ours, the Rev. G. G. Cookman, chaplain of the senate. On the previous sabbath he preached an eloquent and impressive discourse before the senate, from Rev. xx. 11, 12, 13, "And I saw a great white throne," &c. He,

left his amiable wife and infant family on a voyage of filial affection to see once more his honoured and venerable father, G. Cookman, Esq., (twice mayor of Hull) and many were calculating on seeing and hearing him again; and among others the writer, who had found in him such a firm and attached friend as he never found before or since. Alas!-he came notthe deep, deep sea was his grave. But

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Weep no more, woful kindred, weep no more,
For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead,

Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor;
So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed,

And yet anon repairs his drooping head.

And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky.

So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high,

Through the dear might of Him that walk'd the waves;
Where, other groves and other streams along,
With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves,
And hears the unexpressive nuptial song,
In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.
There entertain him all the saints above,
In solemn troops, and sweet societies,
That sing, and, singing, in their glory move,
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.

The "Great Britain" (see frontispiece) is an English vessel, built of iron, at Bristol, and launched in July, 1843. Her first voyage was from that port to London, in January 1845. She is made to move by screw propellers"-a new invention. Her six masts give her an extraordinary appearance. They are all fitted with iron rigging. She also carries five large life boats, capable of holding four hundred people. Great care was taken in her erection to prevent accidents by dividing her into compartments, with water-tight divisions, to each of which the engine pumps, by means of pipes, can be applied. So that were one compartment to be filled with water, it would not reach to another, or endanger the ship. The compartments also add greatly to the strength of the vessel, either as fences or ties.

We saw this beautiful vessel in Prince Albert's dock, at Liverpool, last summer, the day before she