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other denominational periodicals, from the moment of its origin to the close of its twentieth year. Nor is this all, or even the chief cause of thankfulness: the little messenger has been a blessing to many souls, and has led some to a saving knowledge of Christ. To God let our praises be given.

In presenting our thanks to our friends for personal favours, it is fitting to plead that the same may be as fully rendered to our successor as they have been to ourselves. In a few months the editorial management of this periodical will be confided to other hands, and our readers may feel assured the choice will fall upon one of the right spirit and competent ability; one who will dispense rich truths and interesting facts for the instruction and edification of the young, and ably sustain the character and usefulness of this publication. We heartily wish him God's blessing, and bespeak for him the cordial and zealous support of all our readers. We entreat that, if we have been at all successful in winning the esteem of our readers, it may be expressed by hearty, earnest co-operation with our successor. We should be delighted in seeing a display of this spirit, by entering upon the next year with a good increase in the number of subscribers. This would be a gratifying finish to our labours, and an encouraging commencement for our successor. We know, indeed, the times are hard, but one penny per month is but a farthing a week, and if the body requires food, the mind needs knowledge, and it can scarcely be obtained at a cheaper rate than that which is supplied by the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR. Commending you to God's blessing, and hoping to meet you in heaven,

I am, yours affectionately as ever,

London, November, 1869.

WILLIAM COOKE.

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Remarkable Places.

FLORENCE.

FLORENCE is an important city in Italy. It was formerly called Florentia, and is commonly spoken of as "Beautiful Florence," and well it may be so called, for it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was founded by a colony of Roman soldiers, who, after the battle of Perugia, received a portion of that territory. In the fifteenth century it was one of the wonders of Italy. From being a small town, lying cbscurely, yet beautifully, in the valley of the river Arno, it grew into a mighty principality-a principality based on commerce. It was then the great banking place of Europe. Kings, princes, and popes deposited their wealth in the rich banks of Florence.

The circumference of Florence is about six miles, and the fortifications consist only in a wall and a ditch, with two or three forts, which command a part of the town. It is divided into two unequal parts by the river Arno, over which are four handsome bridges. The quays, the buildings on each side, and the bridges render the part through which the river runs by far the finest. The streets, squares, and fronts of the palaces are adorned with a great number of statues. The inhabitants are above 100,000; and the environs are beautiful, rich, and populous, containing, it is said, 6,000 country houses.

Some of the Florentine merchants formerly were men of great wealth; and one of them, in the middle of the fifteenth century, built that noble fabric, which, from the name of its founder, is still called the Palazzo Pitti. He was ruined by the prodigious expense of this building, which was immediately purchased by the Medici family, who made some enlargements; and it continued, until lately, to be the residence of the grand dukes of Tuscany.

In Florence there is a library, containing about 35,000 volumes, with a great number of pictures by Raphael, Rubens, Titian, &c. The gardens belonging to this palace are on the side of an eminence; and on the summit is a kind of fort, called Belvedere, from which, and some of the high walks, is a complete view of the city and the beautiful vale of Arno. The Palazzo Vecchio, or old palace, contains a room 172 feet long and 70 wide, for public entertainments, in which the most celebrated actions of the Republic are painted in fresco.

Among the innumerable objects which attract universal admiration is the famous Florentine gallery. One of its most interesting parts, in the opinion of many, is the series of Roman emperors, from Julius Caesar to Gallienus, which is almost complete. The celebrated Venus of Medici, the standard of taste in female beauty

THE WONDERFUL CLOCK AT STRASBURG.

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and proportion, is in a room called the Tribunal; it is of white marble, and ascribed to Cleomenes, an Athenian, the son of Apollodorus. Here also are other masterpieces of sculpture, said to be the works of Praxiteles and other Greek masters. Beside the gallery and tribunal, whose treasures are too numerous to particularize, there are other rooms, whose contents are indicated by the names they bear; as the cabinet of arts, of astronomy, of natural history, of medals, of porcelain, of antiquities, &c. The gallery of portraits contains the portraits of the most eminent painters (all executed by themselves) who have flourished in Europe during the last three centuries; they amount to above 200.

The Medicean library, begun by Julius de Medici, and greatly augmented by Duke Cosmo I., contains in particular a great number of manuscripts. Besides this, there are several other copious libraries, especially those in the two Benedictine and Carmelite convents. The Florentine Academy and the Academi della Crusca were instituted to enrich the literature and improve the language of Tuscany; the latter is so named because it rejects like bran all words not purely Tuscan.

It is in vain to attempt a description of the churches and other public buildings, most of which contain the most beautiful paintings and sculptures by the first masters in Italy. But the chapel of Lorenzo must not be omitted: it is, perhaps, the finest and most expensive habitation that ever was reared for the dead; being incrusted with precious stones, and adorned by the workmanship of the best modern sculptors. The manufactures of Florence are chiefly silks, satins, and damask table-cloths; and it has a considerable trade in excellent wines. In July, 1799, the French troops who were then in possession of this city were driven out by the inhabitants; but they re-entered it in October, 1800, and became masters of all Tuscany.

Soon after Italy was conquered by Victor Emmanuel, the seat of his government was removed from Turin to Florence, which is at present the capital of the Italian kingdom. It is expected, however, that the Pope will ere long be dethroned and deprived of his temporal kingdom, and then it is probable Rome will become the royal residence and the capital of all Italy. But, query, may not Rome be destroyed before that takes place? It would seem so from revelation.

THE WONDERFUL CLOCK AT STRASBURG.

Ar Strasburg there is a clock, of all others the most famous, invented by Conradus Dasipodius, in the sixteenth century. Before the clock stands a globe on the ground, showing the motion of the heavens, stars, and planets. The heavens are carried about by the first mover, in twenty-four hours; Saturn, by his proper motion, is carried about in thirty years; Jupiter in twelve, Mars in two, the Sun, Mercury, and Venus in one year; and the moon in one

month. In the clock itself there are two tables on the right and left hand, showing the eclipses of the sun and moon from the year 1573 to the year 1624. The third table in the middle is divided into three parts. In the first part, the statues of Apollo and Diana show the course of the year and the day thereof, being carried about in one year; the second part shows the year of our Lord, and the equinoctial days; the hours of each day, the minutes of each hour, Easter-day, and all other feasts, and the Dominical Letter. The third part hath the geographical description of all Germany, and particularly of Strasburg, and the names of the inventor, and of all the workmen. In the middle frame of the clock is an astrolabe, showing the sign in which each planet is every day; and there are the statues of the seven planets upon a round piece of iron, lying flat; so that every day the statue of the planet that rules the day comes forth, the rest being hid within the frames till they come out by course at their day, the sun upon Sunday, and so for all the week. And there is also a terrestrial globe, which shows the quarter, the half-hour, and the minutes. There is also the skull of a dead man, and statues of two boys, whereof one turns the hour glass, when the clock hath struck, the other puts forth the rod in his hand at each stroke of the clock. Moreover, there are the statues of the spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and many observations of the moon. In the upper part of the clock are four old men's statues, which strike the quarters of the hour; the statue of Death comes out at each quarter to strike, but is driven back by the statue of Christ, with a spear in his hand, for three-quarters; but in the fourth quarter that of Christ goes back, and that of Death strikes the hour, with a bone in his hand, and then the chimes sound. On the top of the clock is an image of a cock, which, twice in the day, crows aloud and claps his wings. Besides, this clock is decked with many rare pictures: and, being on the inside of the church, carries another frame to the outside of the wall, wherein the hours of the sun, the courses of the moon, the length of the day, and such other things, are set out with great art.

Remarkable Persons.

JOHN WESLEY.

THE most remarkable man that has lived since Apostolic times is John Wesley. His whole history is remarkable. When only six years old, being left alone in his father's house, and fast asleep, when the flames were rising around him, he was rescued just a moment before the burning roof fell in. He was literally "a brand plucked out of the fire." The parsonage-house at Epworth, in which he was brought up, was the place where strange voices were heard, and strange objects were seen, as if haunted by some grim demon. Those extraordinary sounds and appearances were attested

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