Exhortation to Observance of Good Friday. Letter to the Inhabitants of Manchester on Occasion of the Earthquake in that Neighbours, in the vineyard of His Divine Ma bourhood, in 1777.

As I am, to my great mortification and concern, informed that DRINKING is the general and prevailing vice of this place, I shall make it the subject of this Discourse; and I must desire you, as you value your comfort in this world and your salvation in the next, to pay the most serious attention to what have to offer to you on this most important subject..

The first and most obvious bad consequence of "following strong drink," as the text expresses it, is the injury it does to the constilation, and the fatal accidents to which it

exposes our persons.

Let those who have been for any length of time addicted to this sin, only cast their eyes around them a moment, and observe how many of their drunken companions they have, in the course of their excesses, seen carried to the grave, and they will perhaps think it high time to tremble for themselves: when they see such numbers fall beside them, they cannot but suppose that the danger will come aigh them at the last. Some indeed, by the strength of their constitution, are able to continue this abominable practice for many years; but the poison is still within them, and though its operation is slow, it is no less sure; their strength and vigour and faculties both of mind and body decay visibly faster than those of other men, and they very seldom arrive to the full extent of their naturd lives; or if they do, their old age is not like that of the temperate man, healthy and fresh, but bowed down to the ground with a load of infirmities. The sword has slain its thousands, but intemperance has slain its tens of thousands.

Drunkenness is the foundation of disputes and contentions, which produce enmity and revenge, and sometimes end in blood if they do not begin with it. It stirs up and inflames all the furious passions of the soul, and then, laying asleep their keeper, Reason, lets them loose, like so many wild beasts, to vent their ge indiscriminately on friend and foe, and spread terror and destruction around them The mildest and best tempered man in the world is frequently by liquor made intolerably morose and quarrelsome; he loses entirely all guard both over his words and actions; his tongue, when stimulated by drink, exactly answers that description of it by St. James "It is a fire, a world of iniquity; it setteth on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." (James iii. 6 8.)

Even the most plentiful incomes must, without sobriety and care in the management and the use of them, be quickly dissipated. But when a man's subsistence depends upon the labour of his own hands, as is the case in

this little hamlet, there cannot'any thing be conceived more pernicious to such an one, such is the infatuation of mankind, that this than a habit of Drunkenness. And yet sin is the most prevalent amongst those who, on account of their narrow circumstances, are least able to support it, and should of all others keep at the greatest distance from it. offices of devotion, and the performance of This sin totally unfits a man for all the holy him to remember his Creator, whose memory, all religious actions. How is it possible for reflection, and every other mental faculty is possible for him to have one serious thought constantly drowned in liquor? How is it violating every day of his life, and whose about his duty to that God, whose laws he is image he does his utmost to deface and render contemptible to all mankind? How can he address himself to his offended Maker in join with him in daily acts of devotion? prayer, or teach his family as he ought, to What order, decency, or regularity can be observed in that house, where the master of it is almost constantly deprived of reason? Instead of bringing up his children and ser

the Lord," and instilling into them the prinvants in the "nurture and admonition of ciples of virtue and religion, he is doing his lead them early by his own example into one utmost to debauch and corrupt them, and to of the most odious and pernicious vices that can deform human nature; nay, so little regard has he even for external appearance, that he generally spends in revelling and exboth by divine and human authority for the cess that sacred day itself which is set apart public worship of God. This is so shocking an insuit on all decency, such a daring affront of those who now hear me can charge them. to the Majesty of Heaven, that I hope none selves with so heinous a crime, or if they have been guilty of it, will never dare to repeat it again.

Still further: there is one respect in which Drunkenness differs from and exceeds in guilt all other sins, because it is not only in itself a crime most odious and detestable, but is also generally a door and an inlet to many other vices of a still more shocking nature. This spirit of intoxication, like that evil one in the Gospel, when once it has got possession of the soul, very soon finds means to introduce a long train of its infernal companions: "It goeth and taketh with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and state of that man is worse than the first." they enter in and dwell there; and the last (Matt. xii. 45.) No one can tell into what eries he may be betrayed, when he has given up his reason; there is then no discernment of right or wrong, he lies open to every temptation, and ready to obey the sug gestions of every wicked passion. What

shocking oaths and execrations, what filthy and obscene conversations, what rash and unguarded expressions, does excessive drinking produce! How often does it seduce men into robbery, lewdness, adultery, and even murder? And when in their sober moments they look back on the mischief they have done, what words can describe the remorse and agitation of their souls! And there will be still more occasion for this remorse, if they attend to those heavy punishments in the next life as well as in this, which are plainly and repeatedly threatened in Scripture against Take heed to yourselves (says our Lord) lest at any time your hearts be over charged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.'

this sin. 66

I was induced to make the vice of Drunkenness the subject of a discourse at Ide Hill, not only on account of its prevalence in that hamlet and its vicinity, but its almost universal dominion over the lower orders of the people. It is also a habit which is seldomer relinquished and completely subdued than perhaps any other unlawful passion. It should therefore be most earnestly and frequently held up to the abhorrence of the common people. And yet it is very remarkable, that among the Sermons which have fallen in my way, there are fewer discourses on Drunk enness than on any other sinful practice.

EXTRA-EXTRAORDINARY TREES!!!

THE GOOSE-BEARING TREE: THE GUINEA-
BEARING TREE.

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama.

SIR, You have mentioned in the course of your work several trees of most extraordi nary properties; but you have overlooked that opinion which prevailed among our old na turalists, of a still more wonderful tree, which Gerard in his Herbal, published in "the Goose Tree," or Tree, bearing Geese, 1597, describes at some length. A small island, called the Pile of Foulders, half a mile from the main land of Lancashire, he says, is the native soil of the Goose-bearing Tree; and so plentiful is the fruit, that a full grown bird is sold for three-pence. The honest na turalist, however, although his belief of this matter was fixed, admits that his own personal knowledge was confined to certain shells, which adhered to a rotten tree, that he drag ged from the sea, between Dover and Romney in some of which he found liveing thinges, without forme or shape; in others, which were neerer come to ripenes, liveing thinges, that were very naked, in shape like a birde, in others, the birdes covered with soft downe, the shell halfe open, and the birde ready to fall out, which, no doubt, were the foules called Barnakles."

As the fact of the combustion of bodies" from excessive drinking is not generally credited, we insert the following cases in addition to the just and forcible observations of the late pious prelate :

The one was of a woman at Massachusets in America. She was considerably advanced in years her body was consumed in the short space of an hour and a half. This awful circumstance took place on the 16th of March, 1802, and is well known to many individuals as an undoubted fact. The scientific will find a particular detail of the circumstance in the Philosophical Magazine, No. 53. The other case was that of woman at Paris. She was celebrated as a hard drinker, and was uncommonly fat. In the evening she retired to her apartment. About an hour after midnight, the neighbours smelt something very offensive, like the burning of an animal substance. They entered the chamber of this woman, and found her nearly reduced to ashes, a small partion only of the hips, the thigh, and the right leg remaining. Thus all the other parts of the body had in the course of three hours disappeared. A more detailed account of this case was published in the Journal de Physique, for January, 1804.

Later observations have deprived these Barnakles" of the character of "foules," and have fixed them among the shelly pro ductions of the ocean. What our early na turalist mistook for feet and feathers, are parts of the fish, of which those familiar with the mussel tribe, can form a very good conception. There are so many good things in old Gerard, that this mistake will be no detraction from his well-merited fame.-Have we nothing as unlikely current at this day?—Yours, &c. T. C.

On the subject of extraordinary trees, a facetious correspondent has begged leave to inquire, whether we have ever heard of, or seen,

the Guinea-bearing Tree?" He is ear nestly intent on knowing whether it be propagated by seed, by slips, or by cuttings; he describes his garden as of an excellent so, and the very warmest exposure, both which particulars, he concludes, are favourable to the ripening and maturity of the tree. His desire to possess this tree is, he says, view to the public good, as well as to decorate the button-hole of his coat with a sprig, now and then. He inquires what are the most favourable seasons to plant it?-when it blossoms, flowers, and ripens?-and whether the fruit, in its natural state, is inclosed in pods?

with a

how to shell it, and if it has naturally the inscription around it," Georgius," &c.! The best time for gathering this fruit, engages

peculiar anxiety on his part: and, in short, he offers, if we will but send him a specimen, free of carriage, to cultivate it with all possiale diligence; and further, we shall be welcome to look at it whenever we please to take journey of a hundred and fifty, or two hunred miles, to see how it grows. We desire, n return, humbly to make our best acknowedgements to this kind friend for his disintrested offers ;-and to inform him, that we ertainly have heard of such a thing, or of omething allied to the genus. It appears to Lave been found in Italy, anciently; but we loubt whether French requisitions have left a cion of it. It is thus described by an minent ancient botanist:

Latet arbore opaca

Aureus et foliis et lento vimine ramus,
Junoni infernæ dictus sacer : hunc tegit omnis
Lucus, et obscuris claudunt convallibus umbræ.
Sed non ante datur Telluris operta subire,
Auricamos quam quis decerpserit arbore fetus.
Primo avolso non deficit alter
Aureus ; et simili frondescit virga metallo.

Namque ipse volens facilisque sequetur,
Si te Fala vocant: aliter, non viribus ullis
Vincere, nec duro poteris convellere ferro.
It is true, however, that the employment to
bich this author puts his golden branch,
hen plucked, is what, we presume, does
ot come within our correspondent's request :
is to authorize a passage to the realms below:
Si te nulla movet tantæ pietatis imago,
At ramum hunc ........ Adgnoscas.
That the tree is also known in England, we
Ive some reason for conjecturing, as we un-
rstand it is customary to give away, very
eely, handfuls of its fruit, at periodical times,
this island. It is, however, always done
rivately latet arbore opaca aureus, as the
otanist speaks; et obscuris claudunt conval-
bus umbra: neither is it given to all; but to
ualified persons only, Carpe manu. Facilis
equetur, si te Fata vocant: and some are not
isfied with a single handful: Primo avolso
deficit alter, aureus: it is also, but too
ften, a more effectual passport, than piety,
› the place intended by party, At ramum
unc...... Adgnoscas: although he shows it
ot openly Caperit ramum qui veste latebat)
ad, indeed, we conceive that this may be no
iling reason for the rarity of the plant, and
& seclusion to the deepest shades.
It is remarkable, also, that those who are
se most strongly suspected of possessing plants
f the species,
are the most ready at denying
and if, by chance, they venture to drop a
unt of it, it is couched in all the terrors of
Men-traps and Spring-guns are set in this
Sarden." Some, we know, affirm, that this
a city plant, and not distant in species from
London Pride:" others assert, that it is
ound at the West End of the Town, and
hink it may be a Chrysanthemum, or Golden
lod-and the Rods, say they, are attendants

at court. There may be something in this: for Virgil describes it as a parasite:

Quale solet silvis brumali frigore viscum Fronde virere nova, quod non sua seminat arbos, Et croceo fetu teretis circumdare truncos. Be this as it may, it passes for one of the arcana imperii, and (as on other court secrets) those who know most about it, are most hush Investigation?" say the majority; and very on the subject. "What have we ever got by appropriately; for what did they ever get by Investigation?

At the Tower, where the ed, that none of it stays in our hands: fruit is assayed, applicants are regularly assurAt the Treasury, which is the great gathering place, the officers take it very ill of you, if you presame to think that they detain it: and, as to the tree, ask the Customs, or Excise:" At the Bank, where the fruit is in great demand. Bless you, Sir! we have such a tree growing here! not we, indeed! " and then, they show a few of its leaves; which, to the uninitiated, resemble the papyrus: At the India House, "an outlandish specimen of the fruit: a gold Mohur, or so, preserved by way of curiosity: but nothing further." Inquire at a private banker's, " never was any thing so scarce." The merchant-" has sent out a ship which, he hopes, will bring him some of the fruit; but no plants: no; no: they keep them to themselves."-And, lastly; even at the Panorama Office, where all that is knowable, it is presumed, is than an acknowledgment, as aforesaid, known-no other information can be had, " we allied to the genus." have heard of such a thing, or of something

Will our correspondent further give us leave gooseberries, of what value would they be? to ask him, if guineas were as plentiful as If every garden in England possessed twenty or thirty Guinea-bearing Trees, who would so much as condescend to look at them? Nature and Providence have kindly and wisely given us other plants of incomparably greater valuable only by convention. We may find in value and importance; but coin is an article our gardens, health, exercise, peace, enjoyand plumbs; and if these will not satisfy the ments of various kinds, besides currants, apples, craving appetite which afflicts the human mind, the auri sacra fumes-neither would the conversion into Guinea-bearing Trees of every shrub in the garden. Then, indeed, ble, turned all he touched into gold; but, this, man would be like Minos, who, says the fation, since gold he could neither eat, drink, of necessity, reduced him to a state of starvanor digest.-No: the golden bough was but a passport to the realms below; and the Guinea-bearing Tree, in profusion, (could its

done) would be of all calamities the most ca

fruit maintain the influence it has hitherto

lamitous.

pendence of national sovereignty. A sense gratitude for religious liberty is by no me

ON THE BLESSINGS OF PROTESTANTISM. inconsistent with gratitude for political bles

BY MONSIEUR VILLERS.

ings and whoever contemplates the advan tages, political and religious, which fall our lot in this country, will do well to me nifest his sense of them by his practical

"Who has travelled, and not been strue with the slovenliness which reigns, alum universally, in catholic countries, and cop trasts so strongly with the extreme neime of the protestant countries of the noch, Holland, and of England? Waence and this apathy on one side, and this activ the other? Whence the spirit of order an industry here; and there, carelessness and i

Though we dislike the rude and despotic manner in which the Catholic States, the Head of the Catholic Church, and the Ec-provement and attentive support of them. clesiastical Institutions, in general, have been treated by that ruffian Buonaparte, yet we are not insensible to the advantages that have been derived to states and people which have embraced the principles of reformation from popery. In fact, reformation, resulting from conviction, would have rejoiced our hearts, wherever it had obtained; because it would have conciliated our judgments and our affections: but, we cannot call that reforma tion which is effected by violence, and whichdolence? merely suppresses establishments, not laudable as now administered, without substituting any better, or more suitable. This is tyranny, not improvement. We could be glad to see knowledge lead the way before exertion, and change take place, where previous instruction had prepared the requisite arSangements.

Let none think that Religion has little or no influence on the national prosperity of a people has Britain diminished or increased in power, or affluence, since the Reformation? or, has the condition of individuals conposing its population been deteriorated, or improved, since that period, and by the events which then took place? We are not blind to some of the evils now in activity, which may be dated from that time: but speaking generally, and striking a fair balance, is not our island incalculably ameliorated? May not the unequal amelioration of Ireland be imputed, in some degree, to her retaining the Catholic religion; we mean the superstitions incumbrances of it? This, at least, derives plausibility from the opinion of M. de Villers, who strongly contrasts the condition of protestant and popish countries, to the disadvantage of the latter. If there were only our own island with which to institute a compavison, it might be thought that peculiar circumstances imparted to it a singularity, and that it ought to be considered as independent of these causes; but the condition of other states, mentioned by M. Villers, excludes this notion. In fact, we presume to think, that this writer's assertions are corroborated by the actual appearances of things around 11s; and that the efforts of the Spaniards and Portuguese against the French, would be more alert, more prompt, more decisive, also more general, and betier combined, had the people been in the habit of thinking and acting for themselves heretofore, and of exerting that independence of mind, which is the most decisive and sanguine pledge for the inde

"What improvements in agricultur", rural economy, in the government, striket attention of an observer and the cold infertile fields of Scotland, in Eugland, in Holland! Here, the hand of 'man creat every thing, because i labours for itsel here it is all-powerful, because it is free, guided by suitable instruction. The cont of these indubitable effects of the two ligions is more partie darly perceptible Germany and Switzerland; where the d ferent territories being intermixed, the veiler passes continually from a catholic protestant country. Does he meet w miserable mud cottages, fields badly kep wretched rude peasants, and numerou, be gars? He will be in little danger of erring he conjecture that he is in a catholic country If, on the contrary, he beholds neat, ple sant houses, offering the spectacle of affluen and industry, fields well inclosed, a culu well understood, it is very probable that h is among protestants. Thus nature seems t change her aspect, as he who gives her law enjoys his liberty more or less, and exercist all his powers in a greater or less degree while, at the same time, nature appears have delighted in endeavouring to bestow a her gifts on the catholic nations, which is habit the finest countries of Europe. Th singularity is very evident in the limited ritory of Switzerland. Let the fertile pla of Soleure be compared with the much le favoured soil of Argovia; the rocky stera land, unprotected from the northern bl of the Pays de Vaud, with the magnifica Italian Switzerland, or the well shelte Valais; the territory of Neufchatel, wit the fruitful fields of the country lately sub jected to the Abbé of St. Gall. But the mot striking contrast of any is certainly that

* Haller found all the plants of Europe from those of the southermost countries & those of Lapland, in the Valais.