In early life, how many joys abound!
Yet, were we happy?—Let reflection tell-
Unmix'd felicity was never found

In any state on earth, since Adam fell.

To mirth and play, our youth's supreme delight,
Knowledge and godly fear too often bent:
Or rather, what we wish'd, we fancied right;
Free from suspicion, as from ill intent.

When riper age succeeded giddy youth,
And pleasure bow'd before reflection's shrine;
Enjoyment, balanc'd in the scale of truth,
Defective, oft compell'd us to repine.

Conscious of this, imagination lent

It's aid, and expectation bade us walt For that felicity, experience rent

From earthly bliss, in each succeeding state.

Hollow and piercing as a broken reed,

Terrestrial happiness-A phantom vain; Like will-o'-whisp, doth oft our steps mislead, And fills our disappointed hearts with pain.

Yet solid comfort may on earth be found,
If sold happiness alone we seek :

To "precious faith," God's promises abound,
"Exceeding great and precious"-Hear HIM speak.

"To you that fear my name, the glorious sun
Of righteousness shall rise with healing wing"-

The earnest of eternal life begun,

That pard'ning love that covers all our sin.

Nor pard'ning love, shall be alone our boast:

My powerful grace, in every trying hour,

Shall overcome the fierce infernal host,

Detect their wiles, and trample on their power."

The world, the flesh, the devil, all shall yield
To that almighty spirit, who of old
The rude chaotic elements could wield,
And into paradisic order mould,

Oh what an ample field, a glorious scene,
Présents itself to my enraptur'd view!
"Behold (though many ages roll between)

I-'tis the saviour speaks-make all things new.

"These words are true and faithful"-Yet, if men
Dare doubt, oppose, or disbelieve his word—
His glorious word shall stand-shall sure remain;
The universe obey it's sovereign Lord.

Hail glorious time!-But oh! what dreadful scenes
Of wrath and punishment, must first befal
Those who prefer their sin; neglect the means,
Despise the mercy, offer'd free to all.

But I forbear-my sisters must excuse

A thought, promulg'd without a pre-intent. Our first-born portion, inay we never lose,

Nor from the book of life our names be rent.

Happy and holy, are the souls who share

Bliss, the first glorious resurrection brings!
First-fruits to God-children of faith and prayer,
Wash'd in that blood that makes them priests and Kings.

"O'er these the second death, the fiery lake, That dismal state-no power shall assume"

In life's decline, what other view can make

The prospect clear and bright, thro' death's terrific gloom?

CASTLE STREET.

THOMAS DAY.

A RECIPE

TO PROCURE CONNUBIAL HAPPINESS.

TAKE of beauty and wit what you happen to have,
Each as pure and as simple as nature first gave;
Mix them up with discretion, and stirring them well,
Add good humour two handfuls, for taste and for smell.
Throw in plenty of smiles, but of frowns very few,
For they injure each other as contaries do;

If the good man's within sit and chat by his side,
Lest your silence be construed to sourness, or pride;
But if ruffled abroad, in a pet he comes home,
To keep up decorum, your cue must be mum;
Let your reasoning be soft, if you mean to reform;
Reproaches won't mend but will kindle a storm;
With a smile bid him welcome, and part with a sigh;
It will make him love home, and add to your joy;
Let his friends be well treated with all due respect,
Lest he thinks himself glanc'd at by such a neglect.

To these you may add what affection you please;
But little of fondness, for of love 'tis the lees.
Let your inclination recede to his will,
And of all things avoid the genteel dishabille;
Work this well together, in the manner of paste,

Candy'd o'er with good sense, and I'll warant 'twill last.

W.

AN EPIGRAM,

Which was put up at the Dock Yard Gate, Chatham, soon after the Decease of a certain Galvinist Preacher in that Town, who used bitterly, in his public Harangues, to inveigh against Mr. John Wesley, on account of his Belief in the Arminian Doctrines, and at last condemned him to endless Damnation.

SAYS Vy to Wesley," Pray how came you here?
To see you in heaven it makes me to stare.

Your sentence I passed some months since, you know,
And sent you post haste to the regions below."

Quoth John," Brother Vy, 'twas love, boundless love,
That gave me a place in these mansions above.

I pass'd through the portals with love on my ticket.
But you, I believe, crept in at the wicket."

The following Lines, accompanying the above, were wrote by another

Hand.

Whether wicket or portal, there is but one door,
And he that some other way aims to get o'er,

A thief and a robber most justly is styl'd,

Which if they were such they're most sadly beguil'd.

But love and true charity hope for the best,

So e'en let those preachers in God's judgment rest.

As the lakes of North America receive a great number of rivers, many of which are of considerable magnitude, so it is reasonable that they must emit a great quantity of water; this is indeed the fact; but we do not know that any river except the St. Laurence is connected with these lakes and with the sea. This river issues from lake Ontario, and continues its course with but little winding for seven hundred miles, till it empties itself into the northern Atlantic, opposite the great island of Newfoundland. Its mouth is vast and spacious; at the entrance of which lies the great island of Anticosti. This river is navigable for great ships as far as Quebec, which fine city stands on its north side, above four hundred miles from the sea: from hence to Montreal it is navigable for smaller vessels; but above this town it has many shoals and rocks which prevent sailing upon it. Many of these, probably, when the country is fully inhabited, will give way to human art and industry, and a navigation will be opened from the Atlantic, through the lake Ontario, to the great fall of Niagara, and from thence through all the great lakes, and by means of the rivers which communicate with them, to all the interior parts of North America; even, perhaps, to the great river Mississipi, and so into the gulph of Mexico. But let us cease to speculate-as we have mentioned the fall of Niagara, we will here give a description of it.

It is in a river of the same name, which runs from lake Erie to lake Ontario, and contains all the water which comes from the other great lakes before mentioned, with all their numerous rivers. The Niagara at this place runs from S. S. E. to N. N. W.; and the rock of the fall crosses it in the form of an hollow semicircle, or horse shoe. Above the fall, in the middle of the river, is an island about a thousand feet in length; VOL. IV.

M

the lower end of which is just at the perpendicular edge of the falf itself. On both sides of this island runs the river. Before the water comes to this place its current is comparitively slow; but from hence its rapidity is most astonishing before it reaches the fall. It is perfectly white, and in many places is thrown up high into the air, by rushing against the rocks which abound in its channel. The stream which runs down on the west side is more rapid, and in greater abundance, and whiter than that on the east; and seems almost to outfly an arrow in swiftness. When you are at the top of the fall, and look up the river, you may see that the water is every where exceeding steep, almost like the side of a hill; but when you look down the fall, it is impossible to express the amazement it occasions. The height of it, as measured by mathematical instruments is found to be exactly one hundred and thirty seven feet. When the water is come to the bottom, it jumps back again to a very great height in the air. The noise, it is said, may be heard at the distance of forty-five miles, when the wind is right. At some times the fall makes a much greater noise than at others; and this is held for an infallible sign of approaching rain, or other foul weather.

From the place where the water falls, there arises abundance of vapours like very thick smoke, insomuch that when viewed at a distance you would think that the Indians had set the forests on fire. These vapours rise very high in the air when it is calm, but are dispersed by the wind when it blows hard. If a person go into this vapour or fog, it is so penetrating, that in a few minutes he will be as wet as though he had been immersed in water. Some have asserted, that when any bird flies into this vapour it falls down and dies, either from the effect of the vapour itself, or by being stunned by the excessive noise of the waterfall, which astonishes them so that they know not where they go; but this is not probable, because among the multitude of dead birds which are found, there are none but such as frequent the waters, as swans, geese, ducks, water-hens, and teal. It is observed, that often times great flocks of these are seen going to destruction. They swim and play in the river above, and by the current are carried down the stream; and as such fowl take a pleasure in the rapidity of the water, they indulge themselves in this enjoyment till its swiftness becomes so great that they cannot rise, but are hurried down the precipice, and perish in spite of all their efforts to the contrary, which are often observed to be very great. In the months of September and October the quantity of dead water-fowl is so very great, that the garrison of fort Niagara chiefly live upon them. Besides fowls, they also find dead fish of divers kinds, and deer, bears, and other animals, which have perished in attempting to cross the river above the fall. The larger animals are generally found broken to pieces. Just below, a little way from the fall, the water is not rapid, but goes all in circles like a boiling pot; which, however, does not hinder the Indians from going upon it in small canoes a-fishing. A person above the fall, and looking down, is liable to be seized with giddiness, from the awfulness of the spectacle; even such as have been there many times will seldom venture to look, without at the same time keeping fast hold of some tree while they indulge themselves with the sight.